January through May 2009 Blog
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Warning: this is an archive so some or all of the links may be outdated.
MAY 2009
SATURDAY MAY 30, 2009 12:20 AM (CT) You’ve got til midnight Sunday night/Monday morning to get your Obama limerick in for the ihatethemedia.com contest. Check out the site. And pay close attention to the pictures. What was the Prime Minister of Italy thinking?! If that doesn’t look like a facial imitation of a gynecological exam, I give up. (You’ll see the picture on the site.) Another site to bookmark is Benny Foy’s TruckinToTheOldies.com –if you’re a driver and an oldies lover, this is for you.
Here for Friday Night Trivia answers? Bumper Stumpers are up under “Who Did That Record” to your left. Questions of the Hour? In 1972, auto workers struck a GM plant over this issue. In the prior year it had caused absenteeism to nearly double. Clearly workers were unhappy. About what? Repetitive empty tasks. (Feeling like nursemaids to an assembly line, workers now had a small specific task to accomplish repeatedly such as putting four bolts into a bumper which management felt would increase efficiency but it was at the expense of worker satisfaction.)
A 1972 report said that the world’s energy sources, primarily oil, would be threatened by depletion in the future because of this. What? Third world countries (In ’72, 25% of the people were responsible for 76% of all energy use. But as third world countries advanced and industrialized, their growing use of energy worried experts that it might account for more than that available.)
Radiologoland.com question: In 1975, Ron Chapman was trying to build KVIL in Dallas. When it came to billboards, he purchased rotators. (An outdoor media company designated certain boards among their inventory to be available on a 13 week basis instead of annually. This allowed advertisers with limited budgets to be able to buy fewer billboards but have them appear in more places over the course of a year.) It was no secret KVIL chose this approach. It was also no secret where all the rotating billboards were located. Any potential advertiser could request a list. When a competitor bought the boards on both sides of each rotator, it appeared KVIL was locked out of the market. One location was particularly vexing due to its high traffic volume. Chapman wanted it badly but drivers would now speed past the KVIL board and then see the competitor’s message, giving the competitor the last word. Chapman fought back. In place of KVIL’s usual verbage, the copy read “Look who’s still following KVIL!” with a picture pointing toward the competitor’s board. The competitor was incensed and impressed, offering Chapman a job which he declined. Who was the competitor? KNUS, run by Gordon McLendon’s son Bart.
FRIDAY MAY 29, 2009 12:30 AM (CT) Plenty of opportunities to win tonight! Not only with Friday Night Trivia, but in our first hour, you'll find out how your creative side can pay off with the ihatethemedia.com Obama limerick contest. Jim DeYoung from RadioLogoLand.com and his partner Mark Fleming have come up with a great site for those of us who love to vent about what's wrong with mainstream media, not to mention the subjects of the news on it. Jim & Mark are trolling for last minute entries, so check out ihatemedia.com for all the details and listen tonight at 9 (CT) for all the fun, and plenty of trivia from 10 to midnight!
Apologies, confessions.. I was sure I would have mailed prizes by now, but life has somehow gotten in the way. I will stay home this weekend to address envelopes, no matter what. So if you've won this year (well since around mid February anyway) you should be getting a prize next week. I'm stating this in writing so I don't have any wiggle room out of it, but keep in mind you're playing for the fun of it, the prizes aren't worth the wait, but even so I promise to deliver, or at least deliver the packages to the post office. If I don't , I'll have some explaining to do right here.
Couple things you might want to read-- one from CNN here which is the best run down on Sotomayor's record on notable cases. The other, a bit older now but still outrageous is about an Ohio Church which preaches the doctrine of Obama. I'm not exaggerating. And gee what a coincidence, right after one pointed sermon they get a huge cash influx. So what's the price of selling out the lord? A new stage and some snazzy monitors for openers. Pitiful. It's here from infowars.com.
WEDNESDAY MAY 27, 2009 3:00 AM (CT) To nobody's surprise and everyone who cherishes the constitution's dismay, Obama has nominated Sonia Sotomayor as a Supreme Court justice. If you don't think this is a threat to our republic then I've got a few things for you to read. The New Republic is usually not a bastion of conservatism, to understate the case, so it's interesting to read the issues Jeffrey Rosen raises here. Needless to say he took some heat for his opinions. Here's his reply. One of the cases brought up most often in reference to Sotomayor's track record is the reverse-discrimination plight of 20 firefighters which she summarily attempted to dismiss. Read all the details here. Bottom line: this is a woman who feels that her race and gender are important to her ability to render a judgement, and someone who admits to making policy from the bench (both here). The only responsibility of a supreme court justice is to faithfully render decisions in line with constitutional interpretation. Nothing I've seen qualifies Sotomayor to do that. Let your senators know how you feel. The good news is that this is a so-over-the-top nomination that it's more likely to be defeated than a more moderate but still objectionable choice might be. I'm sure we'll have more to say tonight at 9 (CT).
If you usually download the previous night's show at mystreamingserver.com, apologies for not putting Monday night's live show up. Here it is. Last night's show is already up in it's usual place.
SATURDAY MAY 23, 2009 12:45 AM (CT) Here for Friday Night Trivia answers? Bumper Stumpers are up under “Who Did That Record?” to your left. Questions of the Hours? In 1975, Canadians were outraged and demanding the federal government do something about this. What? Inflation. (Prices were rising at 10% a year, unemployment rose to 7% and fear over economic conditions led to social unrest.)
In 1975, Betty Ford, the US first lady was outspoken when it came to her personal views. Some praised her honesty, others were shocked when she admitted this on television. What? That she wouldn’t be at all surprised if her teen age daughter Susan had an affair. (She was an ardent supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment.)
In 1975, a special report in the World Book Encyclopedia centered on protection for what was termed “what may well be our most fundamental right”. What right? Privacy. (The subject was protecting privacy in the computer age and protecting citizens from abuse by new technological tools.)
Radiologoland.com question: It was 50 years ago this weekend that the 2nd Annual Disc Jockey Convention at the Americana Hotel in Bal Harbour, Florida, went terribly wrong. Todd Storz hosted these conventions as a way to uplift the image of the rock and roll disc jockey and the first one in Kansas City went very well. The 2nd one spawned a scathing article by an independent journalist which some might argue was most responsible for the subsequent congressional payola hearings. The article appeared in the Miami Herald newspaper and bore a memorable headline. What was it? “Booze Broads and Bribes”.
Monday is Memorial Day and we’ll be on live, same time, same place. If you’re out and about or otherwise near an XM receiver or your computer, I hope you’ll join me 9 to Midnight (CT). Enjoy the holiday weekend. Talk to you Monday.
WEDNESDAY MAY 20, 2009 12:30 AM (CT) Got another great email from listener Keri who continually puts me to share when it comes to research. Read about the Bank Of International Settlements taking over the world's finances here. Great to have verifiable proof of my long held economic beliefs, though in truth I'd rather (and I'm sure Keri would rather) she be able to prove me wrong. More toinght at 9 (CT).
MONDAY MAY 18, 2009 9:00 PM (CT) Ah, the best made plans and such... we're rescheduling Dr. Mona Lisa until next week due to technical snafus not of our making. But hey, the Bilderberg meeting has just wrapped up, so we'll have plenty to talk about. Want to know who was there? Click here. Want to know what went on? Interesting tales from a British reporter who really got the run around in more ways than one here. Talk to you in minutes.
SUNDAY MAY 17, 2009 11:00 PM (CT) Here for Friday Night Trivia answers? Bumper Stumpers can be found by clicking on “Who Did That Record” to your left.
Questions of the Hours? In 1972, protestors took over this US government building. The standoff ended only after Nixon promised not to prosecute anyone involved, as well as to address the issues raised. What building was taken over? The Bureau of Indian Affairs.
In 1972, an inventive business in Chicago announced a big one day sale to celebrate their 10th anniversary. “We’re selling 10,000 BLANK at a 20% discount.” What was on sale? Dollars. Chicago’s United of America Bank held a 10th anniversary “money sale” which clearly had a few conditions for buyers.
Radiologoland.com question: This Baltimore station took a novel approach at mitigating the problems they had being low power. With only 250 watts at night, and 1,000 in the day, they sold poor coverage as an advantage—saying they offered ‘Pin Point Coverage’ so you could only buy what you need instead of going with the big stations that covered wide areas beyond your potential clientele. Pretty inventive. What was the station? WITH (a Class IV station at 1230 AM).
We’ve got the cure for whatever ails ya tomorrow night. OK, maybe that’s overblown but you will be surprised to learn that there’s a whole body of knowledge about the mental and psychological causes of disease—every disease. Dr. Mona Lisa Schulz knows all about it. She’s a psychic physician. From first blush that sounds mutually exclusive, but you’ll first hand it’s not. Dr. Mona Lisa is a medical intuitive who is also an MD and PhD. It’s the best of both worlds—she’s got hard science to back up her more ephemeral impressions. You can hear her show on Hay House Radio and you can get a great price on her new book, The Intuitive Advisor: A Psychic Doctor Teaches You How to Solve Your Most Pressing Health Problems
FRIDAY MAY 15, 2009 8:30 PM (CT) We'll talk to Steve Warren in about half an hour. Steve has been involved in American radio for over four decades-- with an extensive background in Country music, he was also an early satellite radio pioneer with Sirius. More recently though he's been the architect of something I bet you've never heard. Unless you happen to be Chinese. Chinamerica Hit Radio is alive and well online where Chinese speakers world wide hear a wide selection of Chiense popular music (mando-pop, canto-pop and the like) It's the first full time Chinese popular music station based in the United States and it's a fascinating story. Hear Steve tell it, and check out www.chinamericahitradio.com --I'm listening while I type this. We'll spend the two hours following Steve (10-Mid CT) playing trivia. Please call!
THURSDAY MAY 14, 2009 5:00 AM (CT) Larry Pratt from GOA joins me tonight at 9 (CT) for the latest legislative news. One good legislative amendment and a number of threatening bills still working their way through the system. Check out gunowners.org for more info and listen to Larry tonight. Without the Second Amendment, we lose any hope at defending the rest of our Bill of Rights and there's no shortage of people in high places who will do whatever it takes to part you from your right to bear arms.
WEDNESDAY MAY 13, 2009 9:00 PM (CT) In minutes we'll be talking with Glenn Sacks of Fathers & Families, a group dedicated to fighting the atrocities of family court. It's beyond bad what happens to non custodial parents, and even worse when its compounded by things like Lifetime TV's proposed show on "Deadbead Dads" (click on it for info). Nevermind the reality that non-custodial parents are expected to pay regardless of the custodial parent's actions, particularly the refusal to allow the non-custodial parent to participate in decisions affecting the kids, but now with today's economy, the lack of parity between intact family obligations and non-custodial forced obligations is more than unreasonable. If you're not mad yet, hopefully you will be after talking with Glenn tonight.
SATURDAY MAY 9, 2009 12:30 AM (CT) Here for trivia answers? Bumper Stumpers are up under “Who Did That Record” to your left. Questions of the Hour? In 1967, the first death from this was recorded. From what? A space flight. (Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir M. Kmoarov, 40, was the first person to be killed during an actual space flight. He died on April 24, 1967.)
Auto sales in 1967 were lower than 1966. In addition to labor issues and tight money, two reasons were cited. Name one of them. The Vietnam War took hundreds of thousands of young men out of the auto market. Potential buyers were deferring features until the 1968 models arrived.
Car buyers in 1967 waiting for the 1968 models were hoping for more blank in a new car than the ’67 models afforded. Fill in the blank: Safety features.
There was only one new car model for the 1968 line. What was it? The AMC Javelin. AMC was also the only car manufacturer to drop a model in 1968. What was it? The Marlin.
Radiologoland.com question: In 1973, well known top 40 broadcaster Gordon McLendon wanted to add to his chain. He decided he was going to buy this network of stations and instructed an employee, Ken Dowe, to get the deal done. He offered a million dollars for it. Dowe was incredculous saying it couldn’t be done. Dowe was right, but it took both of them 9 months to conclude it wouldn’t work. Gordon enjoyed every minute and was ready and willing to fork over a million if he could get even some of the stations. What network? AFRN. American Armed Forces Radio Network. (He told Dowe that no one at the Pentagon would know what to do and ultimately they didn’t.) Talk to you Monday night at 9.
FRIDAY MAY 8, 2009 12:01 AM (CT) Trivia tonight-- probably 3 big hours. Details at 9 (CT). If you're here looking for Noreen Gosch's email address, it's here. It really is a chilling story (keep reading if you missed the last show and don't know who she is).
THURSDAY MAY 7, 2009 9:00 PM (CT) About to talk to you live, but a couple things. We've rescheduled Sandy Gonzalez (due to technical problems last night) for this coming Monday. You can read about the House of Death in a Reason Magazine article here. If you're not aware of this government travesty it'll be hard to believe but every word is true. Check out a site dedicated to heros like Sandy who are demonized when they try to uphold the constitution here.
In minutes we'll talk with Noreen Gosch. This is a story about law enforcement not being heros and a lot more. Her son Johnny was kidnapped in 1982 and what has followed to this day is obstruction from the very people we trust to investigate and mitigate such unthinkable activity. You can read about it here, or listen in a couple of minutes.
WEDNESDAY MAY 6, 2009 2:00 AM (CT) Been looking forward to tonight's show for a while. We've talked about the "House Of Death" for years now-- where a US informant (paid to the tune of at least a quarter of a million dollars) not only was aware of upcoming murders in Juarez but actually participated in them-- well over a dozen with our full foreknowledge. We might not know about it at all if it weren't for Sandy Gonzalez. He's a career DEA officer who does not compromise his integrity, or the constitution. It's a story you won't want to believe but every word is true. Sandy paid for his honesty big time, but it wasn't the first time. You'll hear every word but if you want the bottom line: the outrage of Ramos & Compean is not an isolated event when it comes to our government's handling of the issues surrounding our southern border. Don't miss this, tonight 9 (CT).
TUESDAY MAY 5, 2009 Cinco de Mayo-- which is not Mexican Independence Day but a big holiday for Mexicans in the US, nonetheless. Happy Happy if it applies to you-- and condolences if you happen to be French (who were defeated in the Battle of Puebla). Interestingly, it's not a holiday in Mexico itself, but still of historical significance. Maybe we'll talk about it tonight.
Don't forget to check out Venus Andrecht this afternoon at 1 (PT) on ContactTalkRadio.com. The subject is, "Is Karma Ruining Your Life?" which might explain a lot, or at least be a great respite from the rest of the news that inundates us.
Speaking of that, apologies for not getting up the explanation as to how the heck Citicorp could post a profit last month. As usual, listener Keri has the absolute best research. You can read it all here.
On to something completely different, here's a great link to a video on the Savanna Redding case which is in front of the Supreme Court. It affects all of us, even more so if we have kids in public school. Watch it and weigh in.
And finally my buddy Dick Kulpa has a new website, SouthFloridaFunTimes.com Dick, the creator of Bat Boy was a lot of the creative force behind The Weekly World News (may it rest in peace-- glad Dick isn't, though, and his cartooning continues to bring him success.)
One more link-- our latest trip pictures, all taken by Jon. I think you'll like them. A couple pictures of the dogs too. All here. Talk to you tonight.
SATURDAY MAY 2, 2009 12:10 AM (CT) Several links I’ve been meaning to post, but the status is still ‘meaning to’… however I didn’t want to start the weekend without giving you the trivia answers. The Bumper Stumpers are up under “Who Did That Record” to your left.
The Questions of the Hour? One of the phenomena of the 1962 model year for automobiles was the sudden demand for this. More than a million cars included this. Every car line except Lincoln and Imperial offered at least one model with this. What is this? Bucket seats.
In 1962, the UN’s World Health Organization marked its 14th anniversary with a theme highlighting this. What? Blindness. (The slogan “Preserve Sight. Prevent Blindness.” was used to recognize the services available to the blind and the emphasis on prevention.)
In 1962 President Kennedy was trying to make this tax change which would affect most Americans. What did he want to do? Extend mandatory withholding to include all investment interest and dividends. (Fortunately congress felt otherwise.)
Radiologoland.com question: In 1974, NBC shocked many when it announced it would turn its 50kw Chicago AM station, country. Lee Sherwood was named PD. A young fellow who had last been in Pittsburgh was named music director. Of all the people hired for that station, this young music director would go on to make a major name for himself. Who was he? Bob Pittman. (Among other things, Bob has been CEO of MTV, AOL, Six Flags, Century 21 Real Estate and Time Warner.) I’ll be back before Monday to tell you more.
APRIL 2009
WEDNESDAY APRIL 29, 2009 3:00 AM (CT) A couple things of which you should be aware-- the Obama administration may have found a way around your objections to gun control. He's also found a way around congress. It's ingenious and frightening. A foreign treaty with Mexico will stop everything from reloading to joining a gun club. Read it here. But that's not all. The Obama administration has also found a way around filibustering and reconciliation when it comes to a health care bill. Read this. You'll see how they do it, but we're still in the dark as to what's in that health care bill. Speaking of being in the dark, you've undoubtedly heard about the low flying military planes in Manhattan debacle. But the real question is why were the police and other agencies notified but threatened by the feds if they dare mention it to anyone? Read that here. Talk to you tonight!
TUESDAY APRIL 28, 2009 2:00 AM (CT) Don't forget, Venus Andrecht is on contacttalkradio.com today at 1 PM (PT)/4 PM (ET). Today she'll be talking about 'Can anyone do what Venus does?' (What Venus does, incase you missed the show she did with me, is to be able to telepathically and empathically know what is not obvious in the material world-- call it clairvoyance, if you will.) Wouldn't you like to be able to devine what's up with a given situation. Listen today and find out how easy it is (or isn't). Next Tuesday the topic is "Is Karma Ruining Your Life?' Check her out. It's a nice change from the more mundane concerns, and at this point in time, any escape will do.
OK, now back to the grind: Whatever you think of Michelle Obama, you gotta love her for all the issues she's unwittingly raised with her "organic garden". Ironic that while she's gone organic, her husband's administration has at least 4 bills that will stop you from doing so. And she's winning no fans among big agribusiness for her stance. God love her. Read about it here.
Speaking of the Obama administration, they're hell bent on getting socialized medicine passed-- it's all under the guise of it being the only way you'll get equitable affordable health care. Of course the government spares no effort to stop doctors from personally providing it. Read this and fume. Don't even get me started on swine flu, though I gotta laugh at Obama saying it's nothing to be overly concerned about (that's here) and the head of the UN saying it's a potential global pandemic (here). Tons of other articles on that issue but I'll leave it to you to find them (and find them you will-- including the economic implications, border issues and much more).
Wanna laugh? Al Gore tells congress global warming legislation is the most important issue ever. (That's here.) Wait a minute, if they pass the legislation he desires we won't be laughing. We'll be impoverished. He doesn't think so. Actually I can drop "so" from that sentence and be more accurate.
A lot of people still worried about the Fairness Doctrine. Fugeddaboutit. You've got much bigger worries, as I keep respectfully reminding you: the internet. The "regulatory czar" nominee (don't start me on the "czar" titles) would love to create a net fairness doctrine. Read it here, but don't worry-- he knows it won't happen. What you should worry about it the courts. They'll be the final arbiter on whether there is a first amendment and there's no shortage of people wanting to take it away from you-- especially if you're a blogger. Read this article and note the last paragraph-- where a blogger is threatened by a lawyer who says reporting the truth may be actionable. Let's hope not. Fortunately public sentiment is squarely on the side of a free internet, unfettered with government control which is good news in light of legislation that would be able to shut it down entirely. Read that too. One more outrage-- maybe the biggest of all. World Trade Center Memorial? Made in China. That's here. More tonight at 9. Talk to you then.
MONDAY APRIL 27, 2009 8:30 PM (CT) I'm baaaack-- and ready to talk with you at 9 (CT). What's on my mind? We'll start with swine flu.... I got a LOT of questions about that and I'll share the conflicting answers the government is giving us. Plenty more after that. Do call in-- I can always use the company.
SATURDAY APRIL 18, 2009 12:10 AM (CT) Had a lot of fun on Alex Jones’ show yesterday. Haven’t been up at the crack of noon in a long time and probably wouldn’t do it for anyone else. With that in mind, you can conjure me asleep during our chat but even so it was info filled. Want to hear it? Click here.
Just finished trivia, and before that we talked with Jo Maeder. Want to hear that show? It’s here. But maybe you just want trivia answers. Bumper Stumpers are up under “Who Did That Record” to your left. Questions of the hour?
In 1984, this was reported to be one of the most common but least understood crimes in the United States. What is it? Child molestation. (The largest case punctuating that thought was the McMartin preschool alleged molestation of over 300 children over a 10 year period in Southern California. It later proved to be groundless.)
In 1984, prices on this grew at their slowest pace in 10 years. Part of the reason may have been an imposed price ceiling on this by the government, though it was noted the slowdown in growth occurred before that ceiling was imposed. Prices on what? Health care. (The government had imposed a price ceiling on what it would pay for hospitalization by Medicare patients.)
RadioLogoland.com question: In 1971, Bartell put on its first FM standalone top 40 station. It debuted with a contest where households were called. If they answered with a specific phrase they would win big money. What was the phrase? “WMYQ Plays Less Commercials.” (WMYQ Miami)
So we’re taking off for a week—and not a moment too soon. But we’re not leaving you high and dry. We’re featuring the shows you’ve requested to hear again and again. So here you go:
MONDAY APRIL 20, 2009 First two hours: Orly Taitz, the California dentist-attorney and immigrant from the Soviet Union who is at the forefront of filing the ‘natural born citizenship’ lawsuits surrounding Obama.
Third hour: Alan Keyes, former presidential candidate and more who has a vested interest in Orly’s suits. Check out his websites AlanKeyes.com and LoyaltyToLiberty.com. And get his books: "Masters of the Dream: The Strength and Betrayal of the Black America" and "Our Character, Our Future". Click on 'em for a great price from Amazon.
TUESDAY APRIL 21, 2009, a trio of authors: First Hour: Bernie Goldberg (If you aren't depressed enough about the state of the country, you need to dissect what the media did to us in this past election. Start by reading Bernie’s "A Slobbering Love Affair". Click on it for a great price from Amazon.)
Second Hour: Judith Orloff (Her latest book is "Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself from Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life" Click on it for the Amazon Price. It may be just what you need.)
Third Hour: Nick Popaditch (He's a marine with a fascinating story. Actually I couldn't put the book down when "Once A Marine" arrived. It's the tale of his service and recovery from serious injury. You'll see how accomplished and courageous our on-line people are. And how bureaucratically maddening the clerical staffs are. It's starting to change, but not nearly fast enough. Our service men and women deserve much better than the road Nick traveled in bureaucratic blunderland. But Nick's not complaining. It's an uplifting, inspirational story with a good ending. Hear it tonight, or read it for yourself. Get Once a Marine for the Amazon price.)
WEDNESDAY APRIL 22, 2009 Dr. Judy Wood’s first show with us. Think you know what happened on 9-11-- this is a conspiracy that has nothing to do with who did it, but everything to do with what was done. It will blow you away. Don’t miss it. Check out her site, drjudywood.com
THURSDAY APRIL 23, 2009 More from Dr. Judy Wood. Worth hearing! drjudywood.com
FRIDAY APRIL 24, 2009 Music fan? You’ll like this show. First hour: Angel Rissoff (his website is here, and you can email him here, especially if you're a fellow R&B finatic and have suggestions for his upcoming CDs).
Second Hour: Kenny Vance (check out his website, Planotones.com).
Third Hour: Rosalinde Block (check out her website here).
And we’ll be back on Monday the 27th. Talk to you live then.
FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2009 1:00 AM (CT) We’ll talk with Jo Maeder tonight. You may recognize the name if you’re a radio fan. Perhaps you know her from New York’s Z-100 or remember her as The Madame from Miami’s Y-100 or her stint as co-host with Jay Thomas on New York’s WKTU, or her days as The Rock and Roll Madame on WXRK, NY. But even if none of that sounds familiar, you’ll know her as the voice that’s telling you to listen to this or that station. But after reading “When I Married My Mother
End of fun stuff. After talking about gold....paper "gold" on Monday night, got another great email from Keri who as usual puts me to shame in the research department. She’s equally concerned about relationship between the paper (FAKE!) and the product (REAL). If you want to understand why gold is't at $2,000 an ounce, read this.
Let me remind you I’ll be joining Alex Jones later today on his show. I’ll be up at the crack of noon, Pacific Time joining him on his final hour. Check it out at infowars.com or on a wifi radio near you.
Oh, one more thing. If you’re healthy and you’ve got healthy kids, never forget how much you’re blessed. Mike who fights ardently for your second amendment rights at www.parighttobeararms.com has a teenage son who has faced more than a lifetime of serious health issues. He’s just out of another surgery and in a great deal of pain. I bet he’d love it if you’d drop him a note and let him know you’re pulling for him. See the details here. Thanks.
WEDNESDAY APRIL 15, 2009 12:45 AM (CT) Great talking with Jerry Corsi. You really should subscribe to his Red Alert newsletter. Info is here. You heard about the state of Missouri issuing a report to law enforcement describing terrorists as Ron Paul supporters, you’ve heard about the Virginia Terrorism Threat Assesment that is equally specious. Well never mind that, read about the Department of Homeland Security that says you’re a potential terrorist if you’re buying ammo, complaining about the economy, supporting states rights, returning from the military or upset over the Obama Administration’s plans for gun control. Especially the latter. It would be funny if it weren’t real. But as it is, it’s downright frightening. Read this (and when you do, download the PDF for the entire document). I’m sure we’ll have even more to say about it tonight.
TUESDAY APRIL 14, 2009 2:00 AM (CT) Listener Keri continues to come up with the most amazing links. If you still think that the Obama administration, or even our Federal Reserve is calling its own shots, or making it up as it goes along, have I got news for you. And again it all comes from Basel, Switzerland. Read this. We’ll have Jerry Corsi on tonight at 9 PM. If you’re not depressed yet, he’ll help you get there—but he’s always got tons of info we need to hear.
SATURDAY APRIL 11, 2009 12:45 AM (CT) Trivia answers? Bumpers are up under “Who Did That Record” to your left.
Questions of the hour: In 1967, the Supreme Court in an 8-0 decision, ruled that this industry fell under the antitrust act and that if any companies in this industry wanted to merge, they must first prove that they would not cause anti-competitive effects. What industry? Banking.
In 1967, the LBJ Administration appointed a commission to try to standardize this nationally. At the time there were over 5,000 different versions of this across the country, and the desire was to have one national standard. Standard of what? Building codes. (“The Temporary Commission on Codes, Zoning, Taxation and Development Standards” was created to modernize and standarize the country. Fortunately they largely failed.)
RadioLogoland.com question: Jules Paglin & Stanley Ray owned a chain of soul stations in the ‘60s, the call letters of which all ended in “OK”, hence they became known casually as the OK Group. So synonymous with black radio were the call letters “OK “ that some soul stations not owned by Paglin-Ray also bore the OK call letters. Kinda made it hard to keep track of what Paglin-Ray owned—but in 1967, they had 5 big soul stations. Being from Louisiana, two of them were in the state—one in New Orleans and one in Baton Rouge (WBOK and WXOK). Where were the other three? Houston (KYOK), Memphis (WLOK) and Mobile (WGOK). Talk to you Monday at 9, and I’ll type to you before that if there’s anything worth saying.
FRIDAY APRIL 10, 2009 7:30 PM (CT) When I heard Herb Kent had written a book, I dropped what I was doing and ordered a copy. If you're from Chicago, I probably don't have to tell you about "The Cool Gent", and if you're a hardcore soul radio fan, I know I don't have to introduce you to Herb. One of my greatest frustrations is that in an era where everything is online, where minutiae about minutiae abounds across the internet, the history of Soul Radio is being lost day by day. Great top 40 stations from the 50s and 60s have individual websites devoted to their glory, often put together by diehard fans. But where is soul radio recounted? Virtually no where. What's there is incomplete, sometimes inaccurate and rarely compelling. Recently an executive with a big entity I'll leave nameless said 'We want to honor some of the soul jocks too, but we don't know who they are.' That sums the problem in a sentence. I wish I were in a position to bring back the memories that stations like WOL, WMBM, WDIA, Paglin-Ray's OK group-- KYOK, WBOK, WLOK, WGOK, and of course WVON gave us. But even if I could, I'd never be able to give you a first hand account. Herb Kent does that and more in The Cool Gent: The Nine Lives of Radio Legend Herb Kent
THURSDAY APRIL 9, 2009 9PM CT We'll talk with Dr. Joe Buchman in minutes. He's the academic who ran as the libertarian candidate for the US house in Park City, Utah-- in part on a ticket that would include disclosure of alien contacts. No wonder his website is ThePeopleOfEarthApologize.com -- check it out. Later this month he'll be speaking at the X-Conference. See who will be joining him, here. Talking to you now.. about the Nitecaps www.nitecaps.net-- check that out too.
WEDNESDAY APRIL 7, 2009 1:00 AM (CT) We'll talk to Alex Jones for a couple hours tonight, starting at 9 CT. Alex is always a wealth of info and a darn good time too. If you don't regularly check out his sites and videos, you're missing out. Infowars.com and PrisonPlanet.com are great starting places. His new video "The Obama Decpetion: is a must watch item. You can see it here.
So you don't think Obama's taking over the internet? We'll you're somewhat right. Congress is going to hand it to him on a platter. Read this and this. Then read the whole bill if you've got a lot of time on your hands.
So you've heard Gordon Brown announce a "new world order" after the G-20 summit (that's here) but you want to know exactly what went down in that meeting? Here's a succinct point by point analysis.
TUESDAY APRIL 7, 2009 1:30 AM (CT) Don't forget to check out Venus Andrecht's new show this afternoon at 3 PM (CT) at Contact Talk Radio.
Lots to talk about tonight. If you think the government no longer represents your interests, let alone the constitution, then you'll want to hear Tom Moore. He's chairman of the Southern National Congress (click on it for the official website) and while the group is designed to be a voice for Southern People, it's truly a voice for Americans. Find out what you can do to stop the runaway socialism and globalism we're seeing daily.
We talked a lot last night about a tax James L. Oberstar (a democrat representative in the U.S. House from Minnesota who heads the transportation committee) and Barbara Boxer (who needs no introduction though you may not know she heads the transportation committee in the senate) want to pass. The article was published on March 21, 2009 and it was written by Rob Hotakainen, McClatchy Newspapers Washington Correspondent. Problem is, I can't find it anywhere online now and I'm wondering if it's a hoax. Not that anything totally surprises me but a proposed tax on a sliding scale designed to get old cars off the road which starts at $50 for new models and is at $25,000 for 10 year old cars is beyond preposterous. I've written to Rob to verify this, and I'll let you know as soon as I do.
Unfortunately this next story is verified-- and frightening. Using the Internet in the EU? Everything you do-- email, websurf, you name it-- will be kept on file for a year with the government having access to all of it. Doubt it? Read this. Think it's better here? Read this and this about a raid on an internet service provider. And if that doesn't bother you, then find out what happens when you run a blog negative to police in Phoenix. That's here. We'll have a lot more tonight. Sleep well.
MONDAY APRIL 6, 2009 12:00 AM (CT) When all else fails, ask a psychic. We'll do that tonight in the first hour. Venus Andrecht is a lot of fun. You'll enjoy her stories about how she realized she knew what others didn't, and it'll be interesting to see if she's got some insight into where we're going politically, if not personally. Her new show debuts tomorrow on Contact Talk Radio. Click on it for more info. Venus will be heard on Tuesdays at 3 (CT).
And check out her blog at God Is Always Happy. It's hilarious. My favorite is her story about telling someone she had syphilis (she didn't-- she just couldn't remember "shingles"). You can also register for free personal readings through her online giveaways, or find out how to get a private phone session and more on the same site.
She's got a couple CDs that might interest you God Is Always Happy: The Beginning Material 2-CD Set
SATURDAY APRIL 3, 2009 1:00 AM (CT) Here for trivia? Bumper Stumpers are up under “Who Did That Record” to your left.
Questions of the Hour? In 1962 companies in this business began a brisk upswing. Revenues for 1963 approximated $560 million, a 5% increase over ’62. Pretax income for these companies was $50 million. Executives of these companies credited a government program for their businesses’ upswing. In what business were these companies? Bus Travel. (Executives credited interstate highway construction for their gains.)
In the 2003 Comic Book Guide, what was the #8 ranked Silver Age comic? DC Showcase #9 featuring Lois Lane (at $9,600).
In 1963 the British Cabinet was almost toppled when the conservative party was discredited by this woman. What woman? Christine Keeler (the model/showgirl who had an affair with John Profumo, the british secretary of war. The Profumo Affair that resulted made a star out of her and a fool out of a number of politicians).
RadioLogoland.com question: When Todd Storz acquired WQAM from the Miami Herald he had to make a promise to the FCC. What? That he would not engage in contesting (previous promotional efforts were met with scorn as lawns and libraries were torn apart looking for cash. And perhaps more of a factor were those upset that contesting unrealistically inflated ratings. Needless to say, he and everyone else would be able to break that promise shortly thereafter, but when he got WQAM he was willing to say about such promotions that ‘We won’t do it again.’) I’ll be back before Monday’s show to tell you what else is on my mind. Have a good weekend.
FRIDAY APRIL 3, 2009 12:10 AM (CT) 3 hours of trivia tonight and plenty of giveaways. Talk to you at 9 (CT).
APRIL 2, 2009 3:00 AM (CT) Greet to talk with Dr. Judy Wood last night. If you missed the show, it will stream until tonight's live show, and a progressive download will remain here. Good stuff! Tonight we'll spend the first half hour with Larry Pratt from GOA. If you're not a member of Gunowners of America, you're not supporting the only national organization that won't capitulate when it comes to your second amendment rights. Find out more here, and on the air tonight. Forewarned is forearmed when it comes to protecting your rights against an administration which is bent on taking them away. Talk to you at 9 (CT).
WEDNESDAY APRIL 1, 2009 14:30 AM (CT) Great talking to Alan Keyes earlier. He gives me hope that we can hold on to our republic. Not much, given the opposition, but more than I'd have without his efforts. Check out his websites AlanKeyes.com and LoyaltyToLiberty.com. And get his books: "Masters of the Dream: The Strength and Betrayal of the Black America
MARCH 2009
TUESDAY MARCH 31, 2009 12:30 AM (CT) So who will be at the G-20 meeting? Conveniently a court has ordered the spy cameras shut down. Interesting timing here.
Speaking of timing, Al Gore whose farsical book "An Inconvenient Truth" inspired the World Wildlife Fund's "Earth Hour" this past weekend, was apparently too inconveninced to participate. The idea was to have everyone on the planet turn off all unnecessary lights on Saturday at 8:30 (local time) for an hour. The organizers claim it was a huge success proving that people want aclimate change agreement to fight global warming. (Talk about farces.) In any event, a gander at Gore's 9,000 sq foot home in Belle Meade, TN showed the main spotlight was indeed off, but the lights lining the driveway, a dozen or so spotlights illuminating trees and interior lights blazed on as usual. Perhaps illuminating the trees is not an unessential task in what passes for his mind. Read it here.
Back to the G-20 summit, Russia wants to be back on the gold standard. Don't blame them a bit, though it is convenient that they're sitting on tons of the stuff. that's here. Think CFL bulbs are a good thing? Ask your pet. Here's what some are "saying". And on that note, we'll talk to pets and people tonight at 9.
MONDAY MARCH 30, 2009 9:00 PM (CT) We'll be talking with Ellen Voie, President/CEO of Women In Trucking in moments. If you're looking for a career change, this could be it-- and if you're already a commercial driver and female, we'll give you all sorts of reasons to join Women In Trucking. Click on it for more info.
SATURDAY MARCH 28, 2009 12:01 AM (CT) Good to talk with Shawn Swords earlier. If you’re near the Philadelphia film festival this coming week, don’t forget to check out “Wages Of Spin”. (Click on it for the Philly Film festival info and click here for more on the documentary. If you’ve ever watched American Bandstand, you’ll want to see this, but be prepared for all illusion to be shattered.) Here for trivia answers? Bumper Stumpers are up under “Who Did That Record” to your left. Questions of the Hour? 1996 was considered a disappointing year for the concert business. The one notable exception was this. What? The Kiss tour. In 1982, the big medical debate was on whether this could cause disease. What? Salt. (The FDA said high salt intake contributed to high blood pressure but a conference of medical experts in Arlington, VA in September 1982 disputed that, calling the government misguided.) RadioLogoland.com question: In 1967, Bill Stewart then head of programming for Gordon McLendon gave a speech about his dislike of this and then put a full page ad in Broadcasting Magazine promising never to do this. He was outraged. Actually the subject of his dislike was a debate then dating back over a decade. What was it? Raunchy lyrics (overstepping the bounds of good taste which he promised to ban, chastising record companies for not policing themselves).
FRIDAY MARCH 27, 2009 1:00 AM (CT) We'll talk with Shawn Swords about Wages of Spin (click on it for an article from Philadelphia Weekly), the documentary he did about the payola allegations surrounding Dick Clark. It's opening eyes at film festivals across the country and is coming out on DVD soon. After that, 2 hours of trivia. Several of you asked for a progressive download of the hour on homeschooling we did with Ray Moore. It's here and of course the whole show will stream repeatedly until trivia begins. One of the things we talked about was Dr. Brian T. May's research. We'll have him on in the future, but you might want to check out his site, NHERI.org. Keep reading if you haven't checked out the following links. It's everything you asked for this week and more.
THURSDAY MARCH 26, 2009 9:00 PM (CT) You're about to get a lollapalooza of links. Making up for my bad behavior and utter laziness, I'll tell you exactly what's on my mind. Actually you heard some of this on the show this week, and some are stories you've requested. A few will be new to you. All should be enticing. So here we go. HR 146 was passed by the House Wednesday. Read it here. Note the part about the Hasting and Bishop amendment not being heard. That's what would have saved this bill from being a big gun grab. It's the house companion to S.22 which was passed earlier and the implications are stunning. (Designating portions of I-95 and US-1 as park land will cause havoc for any concealed carry holder from Rhode Island to Virginia and that's just for openers.) We'll have Larry Pratt on soon to discuss the fall out.
While we're on the subject of bad legislation, the senate virtually passed the Gift Act. (They voted for cloture Tuesday which paves the way for an almost guaranteed yes vote on it. The roll call votes are here.) What's wrong with mandatory volunteerism? (Yes it's an oxymoron... kinda like government intelligence.) Read this synopsis from the House's earlier passage. But it gets worse. Here's where it's mandatory. And still worse. Barbara Mikulski, a senator from Maryland wants to strip the exemptions for lobbying and political groups from receiving the money. It's her position that overtly political groups with clear agendas can have be trusted to use the money for other than their radical political purposes. That's here. (It's the homepage lead story on the page as I type --if it's not still there, search around the site, they'll archive it.)
Apparently Ms. Mikulski is not familiar with ACORN, or perhaps she's a bit disingenuous in her reasoning. speaking of ACORN, you won't be speaking of ACORN-- at least not if you've got some questions you want the White House to answer about their getting beaucoup de taxpayer bucks. Read this about the shutout of those who dare bring it up. Still not convinced ACORN is akin to a criminal enterprise. Read the details from a former employee here. Yeah she was fired, but I suspect that gave her the impetus to tell the truth. You can decide for yourself.
And for those of you who think that card check legislation (the bill that would end secret union balloting and bring it out into the open) won't result in problems, read this. And that's before the legislation passes! Even Benedict Arlen Specter has come out against the concept. That's here. And in so doing, Specter may have dealt it a fatal blow (with any hope). That's here.
Sounds like fascism? Undoubtedly you've heard about the now infamous Missouri Memo (the MIAC report on how to identify a terrorist-- if not, read this). If you want to laugh through your tears, here's a great parody. (Click on the FPIAC link when you get to the page.) But in all seriousness, ALIPAC has done a fine job with some of what's behind it here and you won't be surprised to find the usual suspects, the ADL and SPLC sourced.
Of course the Missouri Memo is over the top. But not nearly as frightening as what you're not hearing much about from the federal government. Read about the DOJ terror memos-- nine of them that destroy any constitutional freedom you thought you had. That's here. And read about Bush's not surprising plan for a massive military takeover. That's here. So we got individual states and the federal government ready for martial law. How about cities? Glad you asked. The mayor of Schenectady is openly contemplating it. Don't believe me? Read this.
But what about the police? Can they walk up to you and demand you ignore your constitutional protections? Yes, and no. One guy who refused to let cops take his picture spent 160 days (that's five months) in jail. He also won his lawsuit against the department. That's here. But what about cops stopping you from taking pictures? More and more we're finding out what's going on at crime scenes because a spectator caught it on cell phone camera. We talked about the outrage of the Bay Area transit police denying they confiscated cameras and then claiming there was no footage of a shooting incident (only to be undone when one unnoticed passerby dropped his phone footage off at a local television station), but what happens when cops confiscate your camera to erase the incriminating footage you've recorded? We may find out in Vancouver. Read this.
Terrorism sound scary to you? Janet Napolitano wants to make it easier to swallow. It's now known as "Man-Caused Disasters". Doublespeak here. Meanwhile the UK which has never seen an event they can't use to take away subjects' liberties is at it again. Now they want to monitor and store anything you do on a social networking site. That's here. We often talk about the myth of the free press. But as bad as it is, it's better than a government take over. We may get one yet, in the name of newspaper bailouts. Read about this bill here. And then there's the total absurdity: slave reparations. Know any slaves? Stop laughing, John Conyers has introduced a bill for reparations in the house. Read it here.
Ron Paul is about the only good thing in congress. But some are wondering why he's the earmark king. You haven't heard about this? Well read this and understand what he's doing. And then again legislation you like may pass only to be undone by the current administration. We're in the process of that right now with the Obama crowd trying to get a new Mexican truck plan together quickly. Read this. And if you're a commercial driver, realize that your greatest hope for representation in Washington is OOIDA. With about 160,000 members, they weigh in on everything affecting the CDL holder-- but get that up to a million and their message will not be avoidable by those with an agenda that doesn't include your betterment. (You can join by clicking on the OOIDA link to your left-- say Rollye James and it's only $25!)
Outrage and illogic? They go hand in hand in this judge's decision to shut down your right to carry a concealed weapon on federal park land for environmental reasons. Yes enviromental-- like maybe a moose will get lead poisoning by eating a bullet? Read about it here. But when it comes to the environment, logic is rarely involved. Al Gore's ilk will not be happy to read that global warming is simply not happening. That's here. That inconvenient truth will not stop Gore from another book though. He's in the process of writing it now. Read about it here. Maybe you are environmentally concerned. Maybe you want to go back to basics like organic food. Maybe you want to follow Michelle Obama's advice about growing a garden. Maybe it will cost you your house and the land surrounding it and maybe it will put you in jail. Read about the Food Safety Modernization Act here. Goodbye organic anything if this passes.
Meanwhile Wyoming has the right idea. Insure we won't have a constitutional convention. That's here. Concerned about the economy? OK, that's the most understated question of the year. Well we've got even worse news for you. First, the Fed is sinking the dollar. That's here. But then again, maybe it's not intentional. Here's the stunning revelation from the head of the
San Francisco bank who says they don't know what they're doing. You won't be comforted to know they're planning to do more of it which might explain the one small problem with Geithner's plan-- it will bankrupt the banks. That's here. Of course maybe that's been the agenda all along. When public-private fails, the feds can just take over entirely, if they haven't already.
But does Geithner have our sovereign interest at heart? No and I'll prove it. First read about China wanting to end the dollar as the global reserve currency, here. Now read Geithner saying that's OK here. You won't be surprised that the IMF chief thinks it's a swell idea, here. But it's probably all imploded already anyway. Here's a story on credit card fraud in England that's so huge the police won't take crime reports on it anymore. Think it's different here? A lot of people point to the housing market collapse as the impetus for our financial woes. Some see it as Chinese imports. Combine the two and you've got collapsing houses made from Chinese imports. I'd laugh if it weren't for real. Read this. So of course we'll use more Chinese imports. Like condoms. That's here. Alabama workers will need them. They're being screwed out of their jobs.
Think about all the possible criminal convictions that could cause the state to take away your children... drug possession, domestic violence, assault with deadly weapon, repeated drunk driving. Should I go on? I could. I can also tell you that for every parental rights ending violation you can conceive, there's someone in Sacramento Child Protective Services who has committed it. I haven't even gotten to the more egregious violations yet. But here's a story about the people making decisions over parental rights guilty of every charge they use to terminate custody. (The 2nd part of this 2-part story is here.) Then there's Ohio which thinks it's OK for convicted felons to serve as police officers. That's here. But while we're talking criminal, in my mind, New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo is practicing extortion. No matter how I read it it comes down to: AIG bonus takers, return the money or I'm giving your name and address to an angry public ready to lynch you. This is an offer they can't refuse, isn't it?
Meanwhile some cops in San Francisco are upset that the justice department is not following up on the evidence they have that Bill Ayers and Bernadette Dorn did kill someone-- a police officer-- in one of their bombings. They've sent a letter demanding it be investigated. The DOJ is having them muzzled. Is it because they are investigating it (wishful thinking) and don't want the waters muddied, or is it because they want it to go away? Here's the story. You decide. Want the latest on the Obama eligibility challenge? Read this.
Want to laugh? Our government has granted approval to a medical institutional review board for product tests on humans. The problem is the review board is headed by a dog named Trooper and the product is fictitious. Investigators at the GAO got approval for this blatant insanity from the Health and Human Services department Read it here and realize you want the government as far away from your healthcare as you can get it. Let's start be eliminating the FDA.
While we're at it let's get rid of the Department of Education. As Obama's kids are enjoying the most exclusive of private schools, his administration is trying to undo your right to similar choices, not to mention homeschooling. More than ever, homeschooling in many instances is the only way to protect your kids from government indoctrination, so clearly it's a target. We'll talk with Ray Moore tonight about that. His website is here. I'm done (for now). Talk to you (and Ray) in about an hour.
MONDAY MARCH 23, 2009 2:30 AM (CT) I’ll blame it on welcoming Spring, but there really is no explanation as to why I didn’t get the Al Cuppett link up sooner. Lots of interest in Thursday’s show. If you want to hear it for yourself, click here. If you want to go to Al’s site, that’s here. You can order the book, “America Sold Out” and video,”I am, verses the New World Order” among other items of interest, but be advised that someone else does the site for Al. If you want to communicate directly with him, that’ll be by snail mail and the address is, Box 111, Wolftown, VA 22748.
We also got an update from Phil Berg on his filings concerning Obama's natural born American status. Hear it here or check out his site here.
Then again, maybe you’re wondering about Friday night Trivia. Bumper Stumpers are up under “Who Did That Record” to your left. As for the Questions of the Hour: When it comes to communications, 1982 is remembered as the year the government broke up AT&T. But another ruling arguably even more changed our lives. What ruling? The FCC ruling allowing cellular communications. (The decision came down in March 1982 and it marks the beginning of the mobile phone industry.)
In 1982, one of the most published dog photographs in America was of Angel, a female beagle owned by a Philadelphia family. In it Angel is pointing to something. What? (Hint it created howls of laughter.) The draft registration notice the family received in her name. Woof.
In 1982, medical news included reports that this led to increases in a variety of maladies including heart disease, kidney disorders, liver cirrhosis, and depression. What? Unemployment. (It was termed “recession stress”.)
RadioLogoland.com question: In the 1950s, a major US corporation owned a chain of radio stations in markets such as Chicago, Baltimore and Atlanta. So arrogant were they, that they thought they could copyright the term “top 40”. What was the chain? (Hint: Many years later, the call letters of their FM station in Memphis bore the initials of their radio group president.) Plough Broadcasting (owned by pharmaceutical giant Plough (today Schering-Plough). WHRK stood for their president, Harold R. Krelstein.) Talk to you tonight!
TUESDAY MARCH 17, 2009 2:00 AM (CT) HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY! Plenty of news for you. Tonight we'll talk with Dr. Orly Taitz. She's the attorney behind many of the most promising suits designed to reveal Obama's natural born citizenship status, or lack of same. Dr. Taitz came to the US from the Soviet Union. Can you imagine the deja vu experience this woman has been having? In addition to her legal career, she's a licensed dentist (two offices in Orange County) and real estate agent. What's she been filing. Check it out here, and check her site out here.
Speaking of Obama, remember back during the campaign when he went to great lengths to damn McCain's idea to tax health care benefits employers gave employees. He's not only considering it, he's considering it in ways McCain probably never dreamed possible. First read this. Hypocrisy yes, but it gets worse. Like McCain, Obama is for health care privatization. You think I've lost my mind, right? Keep reading. Obama who is probably not for widespread meaningful privatization of anything is more than ready to privatize health care for those injured during their military service to our country. Yup, never mind the promises made to our fighting forces. Have a serious injury? Let private insurance pay for your care. Read that here. A disabled service man or woman could max out all medical benefits in no time under this disaster. Of course real private health care, at least in terms of decisions made by doctors may soon be illegal. Read this. Much of the issue surrounds whether a doctor can act on his conscience and refuse to provide abortion services or counseling. The problem is it won't stop there. A doctor determining on his own what care is best will also be outlawed under this. Don't think so? Just wait.
Good news is that some of Obama's plans are so over the top that his own party members are moving away from him. Fortunately his dreaded 'card check' legislation which would stop all secret ballots for unionization votes (thereby putting any dissenter in grave danger given the track record of unions) is not seeming quite as bright to some. Read about the potential defectors here.
You've probably been hearing a lot about the bonuses paid to AIG executives. The spin is that it's outrageous that a company bailed out by the taxpayer could be able to pay out large bonuses. Read this and concentrate on the part that AIG ran it by their legal advisors and were told they contractually were obligated to pay them. Most likely these "bonuses" were deferred compensation based on commissions. Regardless, a legally binding contract was made between two parties, and there were no provisions about the company being in financial trouble that would negate the payment. Never mind how you emotionally feel about this, understand it's a legally binding agreement. Now, realize that Obama wants to do whatever it takes to breach that agreement. Before you side with him, understand what he''s saying-- he wants the government to have the right to interfere with a legally binding private contract. Fortunately for precedent sake, he's not likely to get it.
But that doesn't stop his cronies. Senator Dodd wants to find a way to tax the bonuses at the 98% rate. And he can potentially get it. Read that here and weep over the precedent that would set. Worse yet, a New York rep wants to tax it at the 100% rate. That's here. The Obama folks are whipping the public into an emotional frenzy over this. Understandable. But undeniable what the results may be-- we can simply confiscate anyone's money when we don't want them to make it, even though they made it legally. We can negate private contracts to which both parties agree whenever the government doesn't like the terms. And that's just for starters.
I hope you're feeling uneasy. Maybe you're like me and you're bemoaning the fact that Ron Paul isn't in charge. If that's the case, Missouri thinks you're a terrorist. Likewise if you support any third party, any constitutional movement, any fundamental religious organization, any anti-government group. Think I'm kidding? Read this, fellow terrorist. (I'm just guessing on your status, but if you're reading this, most likely you qualify under the Missouri guidelines.)
Maybe you disagree with the war on drugs. That'd get you on the aforementioned terrorist list. But even for folks who are still on the fence about that, the concept of randomly drug testing anyone on unemployment should be over the top. Here's a Florida rep's plan. Reading it I realize we should be drug testing the elected officials. Often.
Blood not boiling yet? It will be now. Read this story about Mexico wanting to retaliate with tariffs over the cancellation of the truck pilot program. They don't think we have the right. What we should do is to tell them to take a flying leap, but what we are doing is what you'd expect. We're upset that they're reacting in this manner as congress is working on other plans to save this program. In other words, your loud voice that cancelled this program is being quelled behind your back.
Speaking of back door legislation, as we've been fearing the goal for gun control may well be fulfilled by putting the bullets out of reach. Read this. Any questions? Call me tonight. Open lines at 10 after Orly Taitz at 9 (CT).
SATURDAY MARCH 14, 2009 2:00 AM (CT) Here for trivia answers? Bumper Stumpers are up under “Who did that record” to your left. Questions of the Hours? Jimmy Carter in 1977 called this “The moral equivalent of War”. What? The energy crisis. A Califiornia court in 1977 placed five young adults in the custody of their parents. The judge said they were unable to make conscious choices. Upon what did he base that opinion? The brainwashing done by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church. When this company ceased to exist in 1991, it was lamented as ‘the end of an era. What company? Pan American Airways. RadioLogoland.com question: The music format geared toward adults in the 1960s was known as MOR, Middle Of The Road. By the 1980s, it was termed Adult Contemporary. Between MOR and Adult Contemporary, it was known by another name. What was it? Pop Adult. Talk to you Monday at 9 (CT), online or on XM 158.
FRIDAY MARCH 13, 2009 1:30 AM (ET) Good to talk to Douglas Brode last night. The Amazon link for his Twilight Zone book is in the next entry below, but you might also want to check out his website, www.twilightzone50th.com. I told you about HR 875 last night, but you might want to read about it for yourself. Sorry for not posting those links. They're here and here. 3 hours of Trivia tonight with our usual assortment of giveaways being supplanted with OOIDA memberships! Listener Ronald of Wichita has been kind enough to donate them. We'll tell you more at 9 (CT).
THURSDAY MARCH 12, 2009 3:30 AM (CT) When all else fails, try escape. Nothing like losing yourself in a good television show. And nothing better than The Twilight Zone to make you think. That half hour black and white program worked on so many levels, but the bottom line was it was a timeless commentary on the human condition. Hard to believe it's been 50 years since its debut. We'll spend the first hour of tonight's show with Douglas Brode who has written "Rod Serling and The Twilight Zone: The Official 50th Anniversary Tribute
Speaking of uplifting, it was very close, but the House defeated S.22-- the bill that sounds like a public park land bill but is really a major league gun grab in disguise. 2 votes made the difference, though what really did it was a misstep by the democrats. Afraid that the bill on the floor would be subject to many amendments which would water down its effect, it was brought up for vote through a technicality that bypassed the debate but required a super majority of 2/3rds. They didn't get it. Read about it here, and see how your rep voted here.
E-Verify also didn't pass and that isn't good news. The plan that would require employers to verify legal status of workers in a simple, effective, quick manner seems like a no-brainer to anyone concerned about American workers in this economy, but apparently that aspect was unimportant to the majority of the senate. Here's the roll call vote, and here's a synopsis of what happened. But wait, it gets worse-- or it may. HR 875 would end organic farming, usher in NAIS, and make criminals out of backyard gardeners. Don't think so (or don't know about it at all)? Read this. Talk to you tonight!
WEDNESDAY MARCH 11, 2009 2:30 AM (CT) Last minute emergency notice: The House today, probably at noon, may pass S.22. The bill has already passed the senate. We've talked about it before and it's bad news. It sounds like it's about national parks, but it's a backdoor to onerous gun control, and here's how: Guns are not permitted on the grounds of national parks. And this bill turns even portions of 1-95 and US 1 on the east coast into national parks. You wonder how the hell that's possible? Well take a look at this. You'll also find out how to contact your reps. (f you want to call after reading it, dial 202-224-3121 and they'll connect you to your reps office. Thanks.
Speaking of votes, the senate has passed HR 1105, meaning the Omnibus bill will be law as soon as Obama signs it. 62 yeas, 35 nays, 2 abstaining. Here's the list. Focus on the republicans who voted yea (Alexander, Bond, Cochran, Murkowski, Shelby, Snowe, Specter & Wicker --Boo on all of 'em) and the democrats who voted Nay (Bayh, Feingold, McCaskill-- hooray for those three). Wondering why folks like Shelby would do something like this? He's got tens of millions of his own Alabama based pork in this $410 million obscenity. Want to read the list yourself? Click here.
Think the North American Union is gone? Read this. If you're not sufficiently outraged, let me point out some of the provisions in the upcoming amnesty bill currently under discussion on the Hill. Here's 13 atrocities:
1. Legal status for any illegal 24 hours after applying for it, even if the background check is not completed (which it won't be).
2. US taxpayers will foot the bill for lawyers to represent the interest of any illegal with an immigration issue.
3. Temporary visas can be renewed indefinitely.
4. Gang members get amnesty if they say they don't want to be in gangs (and they don't have to say it to their former gang members).
5. US tax dollars to Mexico for the education and health care of Mexicans so they'll have a standard of living at our expense which will cause them not to want to come here.
6. Illegals owing back taxes would not have to pay them.
7. Fast track for SPP.
8. Border security? Only lessening it-- the 800 mile fence would be cut back to 200 miles.
9. In-state college tuition for illegals anywhere in the country.
10. Illegals get processed first-- put ahead of anyone who has been trying to come to the country through legal means.
11. Amnesty for aliens ordered deported. Anyone here stays here.
12. English not required (at least not in the first 9 years they're here legally).
13. Earned income tax credit applies to them, even though they don't have to pay those back taxes. That should keep you frustrated until tonight's show. Thanks to Paul Goddard for the list. We'll keep an eye out for the bill when it's introduced.
Still want more? Yeah, e-check fails (the plan to verify legal status) but it looks like card check will pass (the atrocity ending secret balloting for unionization, here). Any good news at all? Actually yes. Looks like some souls are finally figuring out the War on Drugs is a mistake and a failure. Unfortunately, those souls are not in America. But they are in charge of other countries. Read it here. Talk to you tonight!
TUESDAY MARCH 10, 2009 5:30 AM (CT) Full Moon tonight... maybe that explains some of what's on my mind. Let's start with frighteningly absurd. As you know, much of courtroom trial strategy relies on precedents-- citing previous decisions made by judges, for instance. That's why this is so troubling. A judge ruling in a suit about Obama's eligibility clearly couldn't use the long standing "without standing" argument because the plaintiff was a military man and therefore did have standing when questioning the credentials of his commander in chief. Instead he chose to dismiss the case because it had already been decided by online bloggers. I know you think I am making this up, twitter trumps testimony-- but indeed it's for real. Read about it here and pray to god it will be successfully appealed. If what online sites report now become precedent setting, we're over. Completely. Never mind what the issue even is, just the concept should astound you.
Oh well, we've already lost dignity and decorum-- if you haven't heard about Obama telling the Brits to take back their gift, that's here. In short, Barack doesn't want a valuable bust of Churchill. This might explain why he doesn't like the guy, but still no excuse for a lack in tact. In case you want to give him a pass on politeness over that, take a look at what he's given the British Prime Minister, who came here bearing some priceless historical trinkets which Obama did like. In return, Obama gave him.... 25 DVDs of American Movies. Read about it here. If you think that's not bad enough, he didn't even provide them in a format that can be viewed in Great Britain. He didn't pick the titles or oversee the selection but whoever did must realize that our video schemes (both analog and digital) are not the same as used across the pond.
If this is how those around him handle a simple social nice-ity, it totally explains how they're handling the big stuff. Like health care. Those who want to scare us into socialized medicine are big on saying that our uninsured are the reason for emergency room overcrowding. Sorry, but not. Read about it here. And that doesn't even go into the economic reality that medicaid compensates under 20 cents on every actual care dollar. Kinda makes you want to check out alternative medicine. And if you're in Philadelphia and you do, Mike Kelly (from sftnd.com) has opened a hypnotherapy practice. Check out his site here.
Speaking of health, our good friend Steve Bryant, responsible for those wonderful parodies we play, and endless hours of infomercials and home shopping, is undergoing a quadruple by-pass this morning. If you caught the show last night, you know the surgery was intended for yesterday but the anesthesiologist managed to hit his carotid artery in the process of putting him under. He's brave enough to let someone else try again this morning and I know he's going to be just fine. But even so, your prayers are much appreciated, so please take a moment to put in a good word with whomever you think is running things up there. Waaay up there. Even above the Federal Reserve. Thanks.
What would happen to you, if you committed major league fraud-- the kind of stuff that had billion dollar implications? Yes, at best you'd be wallowing away in prison. But when you're a treasury official and you not only ignore fraud but help the banks you're overseeing commit it-- and commit it repeatedly including being at the heart of the S&L debacle two decades ago, what happens to you, is you resign quietly. Not if we have anything to say about it. Read the story here and pass it on.
But if that doesn't upset you let me mention red light cameras. Is there anyone who still thinks they're for maintaining public safety? Is there anyone who doesn't think they create accidents? Is there anybody who thinks that the installers don't decrease the time of yellow lights, and if yellow lights were actually of average length, the accidents and tickets would decrease? Bottom line, if you make a yellow light a second longer than average you eliminate accidents-- and tickets. But the latter of course eliminates revenue-- to the point that maintaining the camera becomes an expense rather than a profit center. Read about it here and be outraged. Get rid of all of them now. A lot more on my mind but that's enough to chew on for now. We'll talk about the full moon tonight at 9 PM (CT). I'm sure we can blame plenty of insanity on it.
SATURDAY MARCH 7, 2009 12:45 AM (CT) Don’t forget, Monday night we’ll be live on XM channel 158 (we think). Same time, same everything except different channel if you listen to us on XM. More convenient actually. In addition to the live show, you‘ll hear the replay right after it on the same channel. XM 158. Make a note of it. Thanks!
Here for trivia answers? The Bumper Stumpers are up under “Who did that record” to your left. As for Questions of the Hour: The biggest publication in the US in the 1960s was what? The S&H Green Stamps rewards catalog. In 1960, labor unions fought for several issues. Longshoremen won $27 million to offset this. Off set what? The loss of jobs to automation. The ILGW, ladies garment workers won concessions for this. What? The loss of jobs to foreign production. (When one company moved production from New York to Ireland, the agreed to pay 30 cents for every dozen dresses imported from the new plant.)
RadioLogoland.com question: In 1960, ABC began their top 40 format on WABC New York. They took it to WLS in Chicago, but they couldn’t take it to KABC in Los Angeles. Why? ABC’s west coast stations were forced to play commercials and features from not only the ABC Radio Network, but ABC West, the west coast network as well. It would have been impossible to play “More Music”, or much music at all. This dilemma created the first 24 hour talk stations, since it was easier to fill between the commercial and feature content with more spoken word programming. Talk to you Monday at 9 CT) on XM 158 (or online as always).
FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2009 12:10 AM (CT) 3 hours of trivia tonight at 9 (CT). Talk to you then!
THURSDAY MARCH 5, 2009 3:00 AM (CT) Good news! The Supreme Court got it right in ruling against Wyeth. You'll remember this case from last fall. Vermont resident Diana Levine suffered from migraines and went to a clinic for treatment as she had many times. One drug that was administered was Phenergan, an anti nausea drug that's been around since 1955. Administered intramuscular or intravenous, it's safe. But should it hit an artery, it will lead to amputation of the limb in which it's administered. The method the clinician chose was the iV Push. It was not ruled out in the Wyeth literature. But it's risky as arteries can be hit instead of veins. That's what happened in this case and Diana Levine lost her arm. And her livelihood. She was a musician. She won in the lower court and the appellate court, but Wyeth took it to the Supreme court which agreed to hear it. The issue was whether a company using an FDA approved label could be sued when the drug caused injury. Wyeth claimed that they did all they could, they used the FDA approved label.
Had that logic prevailed it would have threatened every American using the medical system in this country. Ourgreatest hope for safety comes from our right to relief from the courts when we've been harmed. That potential economic threat keeps providers of all stripes in line. Yes some of the class action insanity and overblown contingency cases are problematic, but more deleterious would be to eliminate the only proven method of ensuring responsible behavior. I'll take my right to sue over a government agency's alleged protection any day of the week.
One of my favorite quotes from Justice John Paul Stevens who wrote the majority opinion was that "the FDA's recently adopted position that state tort suits interfere with its statutory mandate is entitled to no weight." Hallelujah. Another gem from that opinion was that Federal law "provides a floor not a ceiling for state regulation." Glorious. I won't bore you with Wyeth's wormy arguments. You can read about the case here. Fascinatingly it appears that the original New York Times story has been pulled. Haven't figured out why yet, but you can bet I'll tell you tonight if I discover anything that looks interesting. You can read the followup and take a gander at other wormy opinions from competing trembling pharmaceutical companies here. How dare the drug pushers say we shouldn't be second guessing the doctors and scientists at the FDA, given the horrible history of that agency. Don't even start me.
Agreeing with Stevens were Justices Kennedy, Souter, Ginsburg, Breyer --and Thomas who wrote an opinion concurring with the overall judgement. Dissenting were Alito, Roberts and Scalia. Are you sure you want more conservatives on the court? (That rhetorical question can be best answered by yes, in some instances and no in others. When you divide candidates into liberal and conservative generally each gets part of the equation. We can only pray for libertarians and true constitutionalists, but I won't hold my breath). Talk to you tonight at 9.
TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2009 4:30 AM (CT) Lots of people wondering what’s coming next from the Obama adminstration. What’s the next shoe to drop? What if I told you there’s a way to know? Read Keri's latest chock full of documentation and links email. It's here. Money makes the world go 'round? This is the total consolidation of the regulatory authority of the PLANET into the hands of the Banks. We’ll talk about it further tonight at 9 (CT).
MONDAY MARCH 2, 2009 700 AM (CT) Here for Friday Night Trivia answers? The Bumper Stumpers are up under “Who Did That Record” to your left. The Questions of The Hour? We focused on 1984:
The US government announced that due to improved economic conditions, consumption of this in the first half of 1984 rose for the first time since 1979. Consumption of what? Energy. (Coal consumption was up 12.6 percent, natural gas 7.7 percent and gasoline 6.0 percent.)
In 1984, the RCA Corporation said they’d no longer make this. They expected to sell half a million a year, but they had barely sold half a million since its inception a few years earlier. They said they’d keep making this for about 3 years. Making what? The Selecta Vision VideoDisc Player. (Video cassettes won out big time.)
In 1984, the US Census said that there was stronger discrimination in 1980 than there was in 1970 for this group of people in this situation. What group in what situation? White women entering the job market. (In 1970, there was less of a gap between white men and white women worker’s entry pay per hour than there was a decade later. Most interestingly though, both groups made less entering the labor market in 1980 than they did 10 years earlier. In 1980, the average pay for white women entering the labor pool was $4.20 down from $4.38 a decade earlier. For white men entering the labor market in 1980, the pay averaged $5.04 per hour, 7 cents less than the entry pay for white men a decade earlier. Affirmative action did help African American males but women of all races did not see an entry level pay increase on average. Researchers tried to tie the male to female pay difference to several factors but in the end, their only conclusion was discrimination.)
The RadioLogoland.com question? More 1984, when Clear Channel Communications, then a small private company, went public and almost doubled its size by buying a small chain of radio stations. What was that small chain called? Broad Street Communications. (Included in the buy were WELI-AM New Haven, WQUE-AM-FM New Orleans and KTOK/KJYO Oklahoma City.) RadioLogoland.com is a dream come true for radio fanatics who love top 40 from back in the day. Click on it to see something you gotta have!
Links I’ve promised? Here’s the info on the UN’s Children’s Right’s Treaty that Barbara Boxer is pushing right now. We talked about it a few weeks ago in depth. Thought I had some links to it on this page, but nada. You will find some great links in the Boxer story though. Just imagine what you would have gotten away with at 15 if you your parents were powerless to punish you or force you to do against your will. If you’re 13 it’s a dream come true. If you’re a parent, it’s a nightmare. It sounds absurd, but more absurd, is it’s law in many places and soon to be here.
I’ve said it many times, you guys are often my show prep. The research some of you do is awe inspiring for a lazy miscreant like me. Several of you heard listener and driver Keri calling in Thursday night and are chastising me for not getting the links online that we discussed. I’ll go one better. I’m printing her email, links embedded.It's here. Keep reading, and weep. I'm thankful to Keri-- I couldn’t have done it. I was taxed enough just to get it on this page. If after that you’re still looking for something to read, Peter Chowka talks about Obama’s health care takeover here. And I’ll talk to you tonight at 9 (CT)!
FEBRUARY 2009
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2009 3:31 AM (CT) Last night we were talking about a palpable frustration people have these days --an angst unlike any other and it seems that most of us share the feeling. It's amorphous and personal at the same time, and it was interesting to hear so many of you vocalize it. Putting it into two broad categories, one is fear-- things you've heard will take place, or things that have been enacted by the government such as legislation that you believe will not be to your benefit, in the future The other is even more debilitating, a hopelessness from a belief that you're helpless to avoid whatever is coming (or in some cases what's already here). What a great time to talk with Dr. Judith Orloff. She's a psychiatrist and an intuitive (and you can bet in the MD world a few eyebrows are raised with that combination). Her latest book is "Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself from Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2009 1:30 AM (CT) Here for trivia answers? The Bumper Stumpers are up under “Who Did That Record” to your left. As for the Questions of the Hour:
In 1970 Richard Nixon realigned several federal agencies to achieve this. What? Better management of environmental problems. The EPA was created, merged into it were the Federal Water Quality Administration (about 2700 employees) which was formerly under the Department of Interior (where it belonged); the National Air Pollution Control Administration (about 1100 employees) which was formerly under HEW and the Bureau of Solid Waste Management which was also part of the HEW. Also transferred were the Atomic Energy Commission, pesticides, radiation standards and water hygiene. In a related move, NOAA was established in the Department of Commerce.
In 1970 the government took on a greater role, in both regulating and providing this. What? Insurance. In addition to Medicare and Social Security, the government now sponsored insurance to defray the cost of damage occurring in airline hijackings. State legislatures also tackled the most unprofitable insurance sector—auto insurance, with the first no-fault laws in Massachusetts.
In 1970 Richard Nixon was all about welfare reform. The Senate turned his bill down after the house passed it. Lots of angry debate because Nixon wanted to do this. Do what? Provide a guaranteed minimum annual payment of $1,600 to a family of four in which no one had a job.
And then there’s our terrific RadioLogoland.com question: In the mid 1970s NBC decided to create this network targeting FM stations to carry it. What network? NIS (News and Information Service.) --What’s terrific is the prize, not the question. If you have a favorite radio station from back in the day, you can adorn a cup, sweatshirt, teeshirt or more with it’s logo. The one you remember so well. Check it out. And check us out again live Monday night at 9 CT. Talk to you then.
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2009 2:00 AM (CT) It's still a mystery to me why Obama would spend millions to keep the original documents concerning his birth and college out of public view. And the more that is spent, and the threats that are being made to those trying to use the courts to uncover what any job candidate would have to agree to produce in order to gain employment raises even more concern. Here's a link to the current status of various inquiries.
Think martial law is not coming? When Mississippi's legislation protecting gun owners in the event of martial law (that's here) was announced, many of us wondered 'What do they know?' Now WE know. Read about Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee being subjected to martial law sweeps last weekend here.
Lots of talk about the commuter plane crash in Buffalo and lots of questions surrounding the cause. Undoubtedly you've heard that one of the passengers was a 9-11 widow. But you may not have heard that she was the activist who close to singlehandedly was responsible for the official 9-11 investigation. She refused the government money, said she had a lot of unanswered questions and the government would not be able to buy her silence. She's not talking now, is she? Read about her here.
So Obama was for change? No change between the method used to pass the Patriot Act and the Stimulus Bill. The final vote? No one read it before voting. No one could have. The final copy was over 1100 pages, not released until midnight the night before the bill, with only 4 copies available, and all with handwritten portions. Doesn't sound like change to me. Read about it here. The bill was sold as the thing that would save the economy. Before Obama even signed it, the White House announced it wouldn't do anything quickly. That's here. (It won't do anything good slowly either. It's a disaster.)
Most of what the government does though is incremental. Such as banning the most used form of Vitamin B-6 from supplements. This is a long story. A few years ago a company developed an expensive drug for diabetes. Except they discovered that the main ingredient was something sold over the counter in multivitamins as B-6. (Read that here.) So they decided they'd petition the FDA to have the ingredient banned from use as a supplement. In January 2009 they were successful. Read that here. Fortunately, B-6 is derived in another way as well. But as you'll read in the last link, there's yet another pharmaceutical company trying to get that banned from supplement use. If you think you're not losing your right to use supplements as you choose, call me tonight. Incrementally yours.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2009 12:30 AM (CT) Happy Valentine’s Day! Hopefully it will be better than the just concluded Friday the 13th where congress just concluded the decimation of our republic. Obama will sign this abomination Monday and we’ll be live on President’s Day to commiserate with you. But back to sweetness on Valentine’s Day weekend—the answers to Friday night trivia. Bumper Stumpers are up under "Who Did That Record" to your left.
Questions of the Hour? In 1975, the executive director of the UN Environment Program spoke in Kenya about his two biggest concerns. One was endangered wildlife. The other was the proliferation of this. Of what? Nuclear Energy.
In 1975, picket lines went up in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago targeting this industry for the first time ever in the US. What industry? Medicine. (Doctors were picketing hospitals over working conditions and the high cost of medical malpractice insurance. In 1964, the average annual malpractice premium for a neurosurgeon was $600. In 1975, it was over $11,000, a pittance by today’s standards.)
In 1975, Americans were environmentally conscious shoppers, buying smaller cars and more efficient appliances, but one growing trend was foiled due to a shortage. Congressional committees and government agencies even investigated why there was a shortage, but no explanation was ever found. What was the shortage? The supply of canning lids, dubbed the “Great Canning Lid Shortage” causing home grown food to be wasted.
RadioLogoland.com question: In the early 1950s, an R&B group in Chicago changed their name to the Kool Gents, after the moniker of the most popular radio personality playing black music back then. Who was he? Herb Kent The Kool Gent (heard then on WGES, but later on WBEE and WVON among many others. He’s still heard today, Saturday mornings on WVAZ-FM!) On that nice note, have a great weekend. I’ll be back to depressing you Monday.
FRIDAY THE 13th FEBRUARY 2009 12:30 AM (CT) 3 hours of trivia tonight starting at 9 (CT). Break with tradition, get lucky on Friday the 13th and win. Absolutely useless questions await. And a few interesting Bumper Stumpers too.
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2009 12:30 AM (CT) We'll announce the winners in our Vermont Teddy Bear and Pajama Gram contests at the start of the show, and if you don't win, it won't be too late to order one for yourself. Click on either (or both) to do that. They'll get the goodies to your Valentine on Valentine's Day.
Outrages? Several. Imagine being accused of child abuse, losing your three kids, establishing your innocence three years later and having a court tell you it's too late to ever see your kids again because they've been adopted by others. Read that outrage from Great Britain here.
But if you think it's only in foreign countries, read this and learn about two judges in Pennsylvania who took millions by sending kids (some innocent, others not deserving of this punishment) to juvenile jails in exchange for kickbacks from the private facilities involved. They'll get time in jail. They need time in hell.
While we've been properly venting over the outrageous provisions in the Stimulus Bill, we've been overlooking something House may vote on today. It's S.22 and it's a gun grab of alarming proportion, done mostly by federalizing land (and roads) you now use and putting them under a division that prohibits guns. Diabolically clever actually. Read about it here and contact your Representative (the linked page will tell you how).
Many people are awakening to the danger in Bobby Rush's dreaded HR 45. Click here and read the summary. You will have to license every weapon you own, and you will be in violation if you don't keep the government up to date on where you reside. And that is not the worst of it. This passes, there is no second amendment. More tonight at 9 (CT).
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2009 12:30 AM (CT) Still don't think socialized medicine of the worst kind is in this stimulus bill? Read this. It will give you page numbers of the bill setting forth some of what I've been telling you. The biggest alarm is now all sorts of news stories are coming out about these egregious regulations-- yes now, after it has passed. Where were these journalists before the bill vote? You can't tell me they just awakened to the atrocities after the fact. They didn't, though it's not entirely far fetched. 58% percent of Americans believe congress itself didn't understand what it was voting on. Read the results of that poll here. Even 48% of democrats don't think congress knows what it's doing.
But if we get back to the economy, which this bill really doesn't address regardless of title, you'll be as, if not more, horrified by the $2 trillion Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, says he'll spend to 'help' the economy. Read that here. And that's not the end of it. Soon to come will be the third plan-- to attack housing issues and foreclosures. Oh speaking of foreclosures, considering how low interest rates are right now, all those fears about readjusting ARMs will actually have those with adjustable mortgages paying less. That one is here.
But lets get back to medicine, shall we. After all citizens are clamouring for the government to 'give' them health care. Read about what the government thinks is OK to put in vaccines forced on your children (and you). That's here. And take a gander at what the military is doing with mind altering drugs, here. You want them as far from your medical issues as possible. And just because the stimulus bill mandates their intrusion, doesn't mean we can't lobby, prod and otherwise urge lawmakers to reverse that portion of the bailout bloat. We'll be talking more about that tonight at 9. 'Til then--
FEBRUARY 10, 2009 12:30 AM (CT) When can you have it both ways (or to quote Jackie Moore "Playin' Both Ends Against The Middle")? When you're Barack Obama, you can do it in one paragraph. You can tell a crowd in Elkhart Indiana that there is no pork in the stimulus bill and in moments you can add that the town you're talkin' to will be getting a new overpass and highway. Read it here. If that doesn't boggle the mind, the press conference will. Never mind what he said, but in the middle of this dire mess, if you were a White House reporter would you use your question on baseball players and drug use? One did. I won't even dignify it with a link.
A lot of people are discussing what's in this bill-- but most have missed the most dire-- rationing of health care. Never mind the databasing issue which crushes privacy, there's a provision that only the NHS in England could love-- well that entity, Hillary and Daschle. Rationing, in it's ugliest form. Doubt it? Read this.
Also quite a bit of talk on the trial in Arizona where 16 illegals are suing a rancher for his property. His crime-- defending his property against their presence which resulted in dead calfs, destruction and trespassing. Think you can defend your property from invasion? Here's the details. But don't go thinking it's new news. Here's a neighbor who lost his property for the very same thing a few years earlier. Bottom line, if you live by the border, you better welcome illegals to your property and home or get ready to lose it. How can this be? Good question with no good answer. I'm sure we'll have more questions and less answers tonight, but hopefully some interesting dialog in the process. Talk to you at 9 CT.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2009 12:10 AM (CT) Here for Trivia results? Bumper Stumpers are up—click on ‘Who did that record?’ to your left. Questions Of The Hour: In 1878 there was a big debate over education throughout America. What was the issue? Bilingual education. (It was particularly hot in Cleveland and St. Louis where the debate was whether to also teach in German. Hungarian immigrant Joseph Pulitzer purchased newspapers in which he promoted the idea, but he and other bilingual advocates lost to the idea that teaching in former native tongues would perpetuate old ways and division among Americans.)
In 1878 this was a hot issue across America. Critics pointed out that New York city which was already doing it was spending $4,000 for every individual included in this tax payer handout which cost the city $30 million a year over 130 years ago! What was the issue? Free 4-year College Education for every American that wanted it.
In 1978, television executives were concerned that this new advertising practice would catch on. What practice? Odd length spots. (Buying a minute and using it for a 45 second and a 15 second spot, for instance. The concern was if shorter spots caught on, it would pave the way for buying them as stand alones.)
RadioLogoland.com question: Todd Storz is long credited as the ‘inventor’ of top 40 radio. While Gordon McLendon, did much to add to the format, it’s recognized that Storz pioneered it. What was the name of Todd Storz’ small chain of stations back then? Mid-continent Broadcasting Company (it would later be redubbed Storz Broadcasting).
We’ll talk about the Solar Eclipse Monday—and the eclipse of liberty by the senate. Not our finest hour as a country. Not too late to call your senators to tell them to vote no and I urge you to do so, though in truth, not a lot of hope as it will only take all the democrats (a given) and a few republicans. They’ve already got Snowe and Collins.. two reasons to keep women out of politics (sorry, couldn’t resist), Benedict Arlen Spector too, most likely, and that would do it. Beyond weighing in (find your senators contact info here), try to forget about it and have a good weekend.
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2009 3:00 AM (CT) As promised, here's the link to the horrifying story of a woman who did not want to chip her dog, but was forced by the local government to do so or face big fines and prison. Read how she watched her animal die just after the implantation, and vow to fight RFID pet laws everywhere. Your choice, fine. Mandatory, a chilling practice. Think it will stop with animals? Stop dreaming if you do. Here's the story.
If you want to laugh between your tears, read about IBM offering workers displaced by the off-shoring of their jobs to go with them to places like India, if they'll work under the prevailing wages and norms of the host country. (Read the comments too and see the crux of the matter-- horrific turnover, and terrible performance-- what takes the American worker a half hour, takes the off-shore team two weeks-- and it's still wrong.) Here's that one.
Valentine's Day is coming up next weekend. Want to win a great present? Tell us about your higher essence-- the best thing you've ever done for another human in the name of love. You may win Knight In Shining Armour, a wonderful Vermont Teddy Bear. Conversely, tell us about your lower self-- the worst thing you've ever done in the name of love. You may win a PajamaGram, bringing comfort to any Valentine. You call us for the contest, while we're live on the air, 610-640-6400 through next Wednesday night. Our panel of judge will make a decision and winners will be announced a week from tonight.
But why wait, for a sure shot at making your Valentine happy, order something. For the price of a dozen roses (and no more effort involved than ordering them), get a Vermont Teddy Bear (click on it-- over a dozen Valentine bears from which to choose). The flowers will wilt and die but the bear, made in America, is guaranteed to last a lifetime. Send it to your Valentine at work and everyone there will ooh and ahh and tell her you're the greatest guy. Works like a charm. So do PajamaGrams. I call them the cliff notes of giving because she'll think you've planned it for weeks and weeks and it'll take you a few minutes to do. Unlike lingerie online, this is a presentation-- you'll see what I mean by clicking here.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2009 6:10 AM (CT) If you missed last night's show, you didn't miss Bernie Goldberg. He joins us tonight. Keep reading for info on his great book. Yes, I've read every word and there's one chapter that's beyond a stunning indictment of biased mainstream media. Don't miss this. Talk to you tonight at 9 (CT).
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2009 2:00 AM (CT) Many of you are talking about this being the 50th anniversary of 'the day the music died'. We'll play some bumpers in the 2nd and third hours (beyond the dreaded "Purple People Eater Meets Witch Doctor" by The Big Bopper which we subjected you too last night), but before we do we'll talk about the day the country died. Not sure what day we'll pick when we look back upon this time, but I'm pretty sure we'll have several from which to choose.
If you aren't depressed enough about the state of the country, you need to dissect what the media did to us in this past election. Start by reading "A Slobbering Love Affair" by Bernard Goldberg. (Click on it for a great price from Amazon.) Bernie joins us in the first hour to talk about the true and pathetic story of the torrid romance between Obama and the mainstream media and if you think you've heard it all, you won't want to miss this book. It will confirm your suspicions and add some you haven't even considered. Talk to you (and Bernie) tonight at 9 (CT).
JANUARY 2009
SATURDAY JANUARY 31, 2009 2:30 AM (CT) My apologies. Friday Night Trivia ended and I didn’t give you the answers to the 2nd Question of the Hour, or the last Bumper Stumper. So, for all the Bumper Stumpers, click here.
As for the QOHs: Saskatchewan made world headlines in 1962 because of this strike. What strike? Doctors. (They were upset over the compulsory medical plan, which was the first socialized health care in North America. The strike ended when the province allowed private care to exist along side the mandatory state scheme.)
Business in America gained in every area but this in 1962. What? Confidence. (Stocks lost 20.8 billion dollars on May 28, 1962, Black Monday. Even though every economic indicator, from personal income to corporate profits rose, the public was still skittish. The market had hit its peak of 723.54 in March, and on May 28th fell to 576.93.)
RadioLogoland.com question? By the dawning of the 1980s, top 40 as a radio format was dead. It would first reappear in 1982 and would be redubbed CHR, Contemporary Hit Radio. Stations like Z-100 in New York, KIIS in Los Angeles and Q105 in Tampa are cited as being among the first to reintroduce the format, but one station preceeds them all. Tell me the dial position. (Extra credit for the city.) 790 AM KKBQ Houston. (Yes the old KULF. After its first successful book, the format was quickly moved to it’s FM counterpart.)
Plenty of things to talk about Monday night—I’ll either report in here beforehand, or talk to you live Monday at 9 (CT).
FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2009 12:10 AM (CT) Trivia tonight! (10-Mid. CT) But beforehand (9-10 CT), we'll talk with Rosalinde Block. This woman can sing. Her classical training for a career as a concert pianist went out the window when she heard the likes of KATZ (a wonderful soul station in St. Louis). There she discovered everything from Southern gospel to early Motown. By 13 she was on stage with Marvin Gaye. Her college years at Sarah Lawrence were spent writing songs rivaling those of Carol King and Laura Nyro. By 1974, she was signed by Columbia Records, signing on demos featuring the world's best studio musicians. She had it made, right? Hardly. Fellow musicians are long on praise, but fans have yet to discover her-- 35 years later. We'll talk about the circuitous road she's been down in the pursuit of success. Often it's the road itself that matters, not the destination. We'll let you decide when you hear her tonight. Meantime check out her website here.
THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2009 12:55 AM (CT) The Stimulus Bill (H.R. 1) passed the House yesterday. It's beyond shameful. If you want to read the whole thing (gluttons for punishment, you'll be) it's here (all 647 pages).
You might want to know what part ACORN gets. Nothing by name but around 5 billion by inference. That's here. You want to keep up with rape in the name of stimulus (so to speak)? Check out Stimulus Watch here. So how bad is this bill otherwise? (What "otherwise"-- it's all bad.) To quote Rahm Emanuel, 'Never let a serious crisis go to waste. It's an opportunity to do things you couldn't do before.' Read it here.
Not too late to call your senators and tell them to vote no, or at the least to gut any portion benefitting ACORN (and what ever else you find objectionable-- me, that's all of it). Remember, if the senate passes a different version, the two chambers have to come together on a combined bill vote. Yeah, grasping at straws, but I'll take anything I can get. Here's the info on contacting your senators. All you need to know is which state you call home.
Yesterday we were talking about the Fusion Centers. Some of you tried to access info as to their exact whereabouts and didn't far. Turns out the government doesn't want you to get far. Read this. HR 645 (discussed here) is little more than the codification of those legendary concentration camps of which all conspiratorialists are familiar. Might as well get familiar with what FEMA region surrounds you. That's here.
And finally to those of you who asked I reprint the letter I read on the air from a business owner to his employees, it's here. Worth reading. More delights tonight. Join us at 9.
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 28, 2009 1:00 AM (CT) Hopefully a miracle will occur and the House will not approve Obama's Stimulation bill. Failing that, hopefully the Senate will find a way to gut it. What's most important? Let me count the possibilities, but the two that come to mind are millions and millions of dollars for ACORN and other subversive groups operating in the name of empowering the disempowered. (More like disemboweling anything resembling constitutional liberty.)
Lots of people talking about contraception and abortion funding-- never mind that, anything resembling your health care (mental, physical or even things losely connected to your well being) will be in a federal database out of your control, if it passes the way it is. So you want to read that, do you. Fine. Here's the health care databasing. Here's the ACORN funding. And that's just the beginning. What we need is the end of this. Unlikely, but don't that stop you from calling your representatives and your senators. Rep info is here. Senate info is here.
Oh, why do you care if your intimate health details are available to any government bureaucrat? Let's start with denying you the right to own a gun. But hey, even that may be a smaller consideration when the stuff hits the fan if pensions suddenly stop sending checks. Think it won't happen? Read this. You'll note that one of the problems is investing in things for social (or socialist) reasons rather than economic concerns. Continuing along those lines, you'll be pleased (not) to note Hillary has appointed a climate change envoy. Read that horror here. Talk to you tonight at 9 with more, I'm sure.
TUESDAY JANUARY 27, 2009 4:45 AM (CT) We went over the new moon of the weekend (exact aspect 1:55 AM yesterday morning CT). It was the first new moon of the year, and made more powerful by the solar eclipse that accompanied it. New moons occur when the Sun and Moon are in conjunction, in this case both in Aquarius. In close conjunction to them were the moon's nodes and Jupiter. New moons are great times for beginning new ventures but keep reading first. Many people are interpreting this new moon in a variety of ways, but to me the emphasis on Aquarius' collective nature is the most likely-- and problematic indicator.
Before socialists join together in a chorus of Kumbaya, they'd be wise to make note that Saturn-- the karmic judge, is opposing Venus (which among other things rules money) and Uranus (an absolute wild card) in Pisces (which has a tendency to be quite delusional). All may not go to well in that collective vein. And speaking of delusion, Neptune (the planet of delusion) is also in Aquarius (though not in conjunction to the stellium that surrounds the new moon). Meanwhile, Mars and Mercury are in conjunction in more grounded Capricorn, but Mercury remains retrograde (a bad time for starting anything as everything started now tends to need to be revisited). So the best thing to do with this new moon is to set intentions, but not actually start anything.
What's it boil down to meaning? Likely that money problems may come from a misguided attempt at collectivism over individual pursuits. But you didn't need a new moon to tell you that. A lot of astrologers will have very flowery explanations relying on Aquarius creative, leading edge side, but while that aspect exists, that's not the message that rings loudest on this one for me.
I know a lot less about it, but the new moon occurred simultaneously with the Chinese New Year. This one is the year of the Ox which according to Chinese astrology evokes stability and dependability (stubbornness too). But what's that mean for the economy? This particular Ox is an Earth Ox, so probably restraint and conservativism-- logically because people will not have much money, or will be afraid they won't have much money. The Ox does symbolize success, but only through hard work. Because this is an odd numbered year (2009 for us, 4707 for the Chinese) it's a yin ox (yin being feminine as opposed to yang which is masculine). That tempers the Ox with a more nurturing aspect, but for reliable info you've got to find folks (or websites) that deal with Chinese astrology.
Outrages? No shortage there. The amnesty bill is back. This time as S.9 which inappropriately is called "Stronger Economy, Stronger Borders Act of 2009." Easy to find the bill, hard to find the exact text. Here's some info, but when you click on full text you'll be disappointed. Go ahead and click on related legislation but that's still not the full picture. Now click here and you'll get some background. Call your senators and tell them NO on 9!
But what's wrong with millions of illegals getting amnesty-- after all we don't want to be xenophobic towards Mexicans. Oh really, it seems they're fine with being xenophobic in their own land where it's illegal for a naturalized citizen to hold all sorts of jobs. Add soccer player to the list if some on the Mexican team get their way. They want to limit the number of foreign born players that could be included on their team. Don't believe it? Here's the whole sports illustrated article.
I'll let you decide whether it's a good thing or not that Nashville just defeated an "English Only" vote. Personally I'm not pleased. That's here.
Meanwhile USA Today featured an article on the federal government departments that deprive you of civil rights (believe me it's not comprehensive, but here it is). If that interests you, let me direct you to Daily Koz. Now wait, before you accuse me of taking leave of my senses for even mentioning Daily Koz, this is one article you've got to read. (Make sure you click on the Fusion Center link on the page.)
Still not unduly concerned? Then read this and find out about the mystery prison buses in the desert and the new DHS prison. Still not quivering? Then I'll finish up with a story about the latest Supreme Court decision which gives you no rights should you be railroaded by an incompetent or sinister district attorney. That's here.
Want the latest Obama coverage. Buy The Globe. Yes, Slime From The Checkout Line (a tabloid) has better coverage than the usual suspects. But you're not surprised, are you? If you're disinclined to buy, I'll read some of it to you tonight. Talk to you at 9 (CT). By then I'll have found other uspets.
SATURDAY JANUARY 24, 2009 2:15 AM (CT) Friday Trivia Bumper Stumpers are up under “Who Did That Record” to your left. As for the questions of the hour:
In 1964, Congress authorized almost a billion dollars for LBJs War on Poverty. (As we know, poverty won.) In addition to further bolstering education and retraining programs, there were three main planks. One was community campaigns against poverty, another was aid to rural families. What was the third? Setting up a domestic peace corps (which would later be called VISTA—volunteers in service to America).
In 1964, the biggest press criticism against LBJ was what? That he drove his own car near the LBJ ranch at 85 mph and forced an oncoming car off the road. (The press was worried about the danger to his life.)
And the RadioLogoland.com question: 50 years ago a highly rated Chicago morning man started a campaign to save a woman. He was not clear on what he was saving her from (drowning in obscurity in Cicero no doubt) but that was the point—to demonstrate how many people join marches or engage in protests with not a clue what the issue really was. Even the Russian embassy was involved (stating they could not release the info they had on the hapless woman) and educational television asked for a documentary on her plight (the jock obliged, never quite explaining from what fate she was to be saved). Name the Morning man or the fictional female—whose name appeared on millions of buttons worn by listeners throughout Chicagoland. Dan Sorkin, WCFL, the “Save Rose Bimler” campaign.
I am often humbled by what you guys will do to spread the message of Liberty. Listener John spent quite a bit of time on four online articles. The documented quotes from our Founding Fathers may give you ammo in upcoming arguments. Read them here, here, here & here. Be back on your radio Monday at 9 (CT) to give you the latest in absurdity and I’ve already got a list.
FRIDAY JANUARY 23, 2009 12:10 AM (CT) We talked to Tom Cryer earlier. He's the most viable method to getting the word out about the truth about income tax. He's the attorney who successfully defended himself against charges that he willingly did not file taxes. Of course that doesn't mean he doesn't have to pay, just that he isn't a criminal who willingly didn't pay. My money is on Tom in his upcoming battles. Win or lose, he'll be highlighting many issues of which you should be aware. But then again, as we listen to the claptrap about Timothy Geithner, every talking head continues to miss the point. Taking him at his word, what he's saying is the tax code is so confusing that even he, Obama's choice to head Treasury (under which the IRS falls), can't do figure it out. Therefore, how on earth can anyone expect the average citizen to comply? That is the real issue here.
The government's ace in the whole is withholding. If we actually had to write a multi thousand dollar check on April 15th, the citizenry would be protesting en masse. Actually a lot of people will be writing some kind of a check and mailing it on April 15th, so Tom's Operation Stop Thief is a great way to bring attention to the issue. Go to TruthAttack.Org and sign up. For free they'll send you the material you need. Then just show up at your local post office on Tax Day armed with info on why income tax is both illegal and unnecessary. You'll be surprised how many people you'll reach.
We'll be talking to Charles Connor tonight. James Brown says he's "the first to put the funk to the rhythm". His drum sticks can be found in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and his work can be heard most notably on Little Richard's biggest hits. You've seen him in a variety of Allan Freed movies. But even more uplifting than his career is his outlook on life. You can read it for yourself on Don't Give Up Your Dreams: You Can Be a Winner, Too!
THURSDAY JANUARY 22, 2009 12:55 AM (CT) Imagine your kids are acting up on a plane trip. They fight with each other and knock your drink in your lap. You spank them (three swats each) and a flight attendant confronts you. You hurl a few expletives at her. She has you arrested. As a terrorist, thanks to the Patriot Act. After 3 months in jail you plead guilty-- it's the only way you'll see your kids again who are in foster care. Then you find out you're on probation and cant leave Oklahoma City for a year. You don't even live there. Meanwhile the kids are in Hawaii in foster care and right now they're in court because the foster parents are going to legally adopt them. You aren't allowed to go to the hearing. Never mind inaugural addresses. This is America in 2009. Read about it here.
Speaking of inaugural addresses (link below in the next post if you care to read it). Bottom line is Obama is not starting "the work of remaking America", he's knee deep in remaking history. We went over it in detail but the bottom line is he's morphed individual liberty into collective good. And that's bad, collectively and individually if you value our republic.
We'll talk with Nick Popaditch at 9 tonight. He's a marine with a fascinating story. Actually I couldn't put the book down when "Once A Marine" arrived. It's the tale of his service and recovery from serious injury. You'll see how accomplished and courageous our on-line people are. And how bureaucratically maddening the clerical staffs are. It's starting to change, but not nearly fast enough. Our service men and women deserve much better than the road Nick traveled in bureaucratic blunderland. But Nick's not complaining. It's an uplifting, inspirational story with a good ending. Hear it tonight, or read it for yourself. Get Once a Marine
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 21, 2009 4:10 AM (CT) Bottom line to yesterday's festivities? You gotta see Aretha Franklin's 'Sunday-go-to-meetin'-hat', as I like to call it. It's here. You'll see several comments but my favorite is that she must have lost a bet and had to wear the weirdest hat she could find to the inauguration. But amazingly, she was able to pull it off. No one else on the planet could have worn that thing.
Several questions about what was said in the benediction and the invocation. Bottom line-- not what some of you think. Read both for yourself. The Joseph Lowery's benediction is here. Rick Warren's invocation is here. Want to read Obama's inaugural address? That's here. Plenty to talk about tonight at 9-- like what we'll see in congress, and what we won't.
TUESDAY JANUARY 20, 2009 12:10 AM (CT) It wasn't a pardon, but it's the next best thing. A month from now, Ramos & Compean will be free men, thanks to President Bush's last minute commuting of their sentences. Here's the story, but it isn't over and won't be until a full pardon is issued in the future. Until then we'll pray for the safety of both former border patrol agents who were given the biggest shaft the justice department could conjure. Don't ever forget these names: US Attorney Johnny Sutton, his assistant Debra Kanov and Judge Kathleen Cardone. All three were responsible for the most outrageous justice action every perpetrated on citizens, in my not-so-humble opinion.
Today of course is inauguration day. And while it's a celebration for many, others, even some Obama supporters, are concerned that the natural-born citizenship issue has not yet been resolved. More cases to come and a few currently pending for conference at the Supreme Court, but something that slipped by last week seemingly unnoticed is somewhat unnerving if you still think there's a shred of justice in the system. Anyone who has dealt with a court understands the prohibition of ex-parte conversations. Private meetings with judges are forbidden to either side without the other side present for all the obvious complications. So when Obama, who is the defendant and/or subject of pending cases in front of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, has a private meeting with the same John Roberts, it moves from 'tradition' into obstruction of justice. And no one seems to think it's a big deal. Read about it here. It is a big deal-- for precedent purposes, if nothing else. So what cases are still pending? That's here.
That Obama is the most anti-gun president is undeniable. That his choice for Attorney General, Eric Holder, is as bad or worse is also undeniable. But the biggest problems may come from state legislation. Currently pending in 13 states, and suggested in as many more, are bills that would ban reloading (or any anonymity in ammo). Read about that horror here. And fret not, I'll have more things to upset you tonight at 9. Talk to you then.
SUNDAY JANUARY 18, 2009 1:30 AM (CT) Great to talk with Kenny Vance on Friday. Check out his website, Planotones.com.
Here for Friday Night Trivia Answers? The Bumper Stumpers are up under "Who Did That Record" to your left. As for the Questions of the Hour?
In 1979, the EPA came up with this as a cost effective method of controlling industrial pollution. What? The Bubble Concept (whereby an imaginary bubble was place over a geographical area and the pollution in it was totaled as a single source. If any one plant in the area shutdown, other plants could increase pollution so that the total remained constant. A court threw it out in 1982.)
In 1982, President Reagan signed this law which required a national computerized database for this. For what? Missing children. (300,000 annual estimated in the US.)
Our RadioLogoland.com question: The first Top 40 radio chain, Storz Broadcasting had nicknames for the various teams of disc jockeys on each station. Often they were called the Tigers such as Tix the Tigers for WTIX in New Orleans or the WQAM Tigers in Miami, what were they called at WHB Kansas City? World's Happiest Broadcasters for the call letters.
We'll have a lot to talk about Monday night, pre-inauguration, but the issue of Obama being a natural born citizen is still perplexing to millions of Americans. Adding fuel to this fire comes word that Obama met privately with Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts. Just what do you think was said at that meeting? We'll talk about it Monday night at 9.
THURSDAY JANUARY 15, 2009 1:00 AM (CT) Apologies for no posts this week. I'll try to make up for it now with plenty of links.
Teeth gnashing mad about the coverage of Obama's intended Treasury Secretary. While the Dems are defending the choice of Timothy Geithner, and the Repubs are damning it, no one is paying attention to the real issue. As you probably know, Mr. Geithner did not pay his payroll taxes. He chalks it up to an honest mistake. Let's take him at his word. But if the proposed Treasury Secretary, the guy over the IRS, is too confused to follow the rules, then doesn't it occur to folks that perhaps those rules are too onerous for the citizenry? Mr. Geithner got away with no penalties. If you did the same thing, you wouldn't be extended that courtesy, I assure you. A system that is so convoluted that folks presumed to be able to run it can't figure out the most basic provisions is one that should not be perpetrated on the people. And that has apparently crossed no one's mind. Read about it here.
Then there's the issue of what Obama's administration will actually do. You can bet gun control is near and dear to their hearts and congress is already on that one. The latest is HR 45, introduced by Bobby Rush of Illinois with thankfully no cosigners yet. Among the draconian provisions would be the requirement that all handgun owners submit their picture, fingerprints and a mental health evaluation to a federal database. I know it sounds like I'm making this up, so read it here. It's thoughtfully named after Blair Holt, a teen killed by gunshot. It doesn't mention the gunshot came from another teen who did not have a weapon legally.
It won't be the only such legislation. HR 1022 may be revived. In '07 it had 67 cosigners. Never mind 'assault weapons' it was an assault on the 2nd Amendment. You can read about that here, and you'll note sadly that Obama's pick for AG (Eric Holder) is all for anything that takes the gun out of your hands.
Think getting rid of guns will curb violence? Read about the rise in Great Britain's knife crime here. Guns don't kill, people do-- and when guns aren't available, any sharp object will do.
While Compean is speaking out from behind bars, not fully expecting but still hoping for a pardon (that's here), Ramos' family finds their house gassed (that's here). These two border agents are in jail, but the real loser is our republic. Every American should be outraged. And no, Bush will not pardon them-- it's his administration which allowed this travesty in the first place. Does anyone think US Attorney Johnny Sutton wasn't acting in lock step with his higher-ups?
Lights, we don't need no stinkin' lights. Leave major highways in major cities, dangerous when well lit, completely in the dark. Read about Atlanta's possibly economic casualty here.
Speaking of economic casualties, how bad can an estate tax be? After all it's just for the super wealthy... or anyone with a family farm, family business or other asset that appreciated to the point that it can't be passed on to heirs without selling it to pay the taxes. Ever wonder why corporations are taking over farming? Because farm families can't afford to keep the land. But never mind that, Obama will keep the estate tax after all. That's here.
How bad is the economy? When you get to a website called layoffdaily.com it says it all.
States and municipalities are trying to find any way to extract money from you. From an increase in traffic tickets to yet another plan to tax everything you buy online. That's here.
But hey we got a big inauguration coming up. And I don't begrudge all the celebrants. For many people who 50 years ago couldn't drink at certain water fountains, go to certain neighborhoods or expect anything resembling equal treatment, this is a day they never thought they'd live to see. And for many socialists, this is the candidate they've been hoping to find. Never mind whether he'll deliver on their agenda, now's the time to throw a party. I get that. I also get that the government has the financial responsibility to protect the president from those who might do him harm and underwrite the festivities. It's that last part that's blurry to me. The usual $15 million spent will be increased by $75 million as Bush declares DC in a state of emergency. Emergencies are normally unexpected, unpreventable events. This is planned. And quite partisan at that. Seems to me that the "extra" expense should be borne privately by the participants. Donations and contributions would make this right. Forcing all Americans to foot the excess is a slap in the face to those concerned about the direct we're heading. The usual and customary expenses we should pay. Beyond that? Well read about it here. And note, you better not be expecting a delivery on Tuesday. Ain't nothing movin' in or out of the city on commercial vehicle.
At least it's all out in the open. Not so for Barney Frank's bill touted as being transparent and accountable. HR 384 makes a lot of the bailout even more private while it claims to do just the opposite. Read it here (scroll down to "TARP Reform Act only makes things worse").
So you thought the Trans Texas Corridor is gone (well, "they" told us it was gone).. think again. It's back. Here.
We're about to get a global warming czar. Fittingly, it's someone full of hot air. But unfortunately it's also a dedicated socialist. This is not an exaggeration. Read the truth about Carol Browner here.
Scott Petterson has some of the greatest music. His "The Bubble Man" should get a nobel prize for economics. Everything mentioned in it over a year ago came to pass. (That's here.) but now he's weighing in on the bail out. You'll particularly like the GM ad. Watch it here. And in case you're down in the dumps afterwards, he's got some nice picture in Smile here. (Check out the smiling dogs. It'll make you instantly feel better.)
But let me get you back to feeling awful. Child Support Enforcement. Now those are fighting words. How the hell can Bernie Madoff get house arrest when men who sincerely can't comply financial with orders that don't take reality into consideration, are immediately sent to jail? Angelo Lobo's been working on a documentary on it, and a 30 minute preview copy of Support System Down is available here. Not only will you want to see it, but buying a copy (inexpensive at $8.97) will help fund the completion of a project that should be out there. We're not only talking parents, but people who are not parents-- proven not parents-- who are still ensnared in the system. You can register here for a drawing for a free copy, but if you can support Angelo, he's more likely to get the full version released in a timely manner.
Then there's truckingboards.com Betty wrote to let us know her friend Jeff has put together a site dedicated to commercial driving. If you have a CDL, you'll want to bookmark it.
Want to laugh? (Might as well, otherwise you'll be crying when it comes to anything economic.) Germany is banning excessive borrowing. Read it here. We'll talk about it tomorrow.
We'll also talk about Chicago and corruption. Oh wait, they're often one and the same. Certainly true in the great water swindle. Seems the city installed meters that would charge you over 7 times your actual usage. It's not like they planned it-- that was pure bureaucratic blunder. But they quickly discovered it, and for decades since have made sure that Chicago residents and businesses wouldn't find out. Here's what they did. (Scroll down to "This Is Why Your Bills and Taxes Are High" --even for Chicago this one is over the top). Talk to you at 9.
SUNDAY JANUARY 11, 2009 2:30 AM (CT) Here to find the trivia answers? As usual, the Bumper Stumpers are up under "Who Did That Record" to your left.
As for the Question of the Hours: In 1972, Great Britain abolished this as part of reforms directed at stimulating the economy. Abolished what? The fixed interest rate (that banks would charge, known as the Bank Rate, set by the Bank of England as the peg for monetary and fiscal policy. It was replaced by fluctuating “last resort” rates. The first official “minimum lending rate” was 7.25%. Bank reserve requirements replaced direct control on lending.)
1972 was the first time a woman held this job in America. What job? Rabbi. (Sally J. Preisand was the first woman to be ordained at the Hebrew Union College in NYC. 14 women were also elected as presidents of Reform temples.)
In 1971, the White House promised to deregulate this. What? Radio. (The White House Office of Telecommunications Policy announced that decision in 1971, and by the end of 1972, the FCC released the results of a study on how to relax or eliminate much of its onerous red tape logging, filing and other technical rules. Nothing immediately occurred.)
RadioLogoland.com question: By 1972, Quadraphonic sound was expanding. Stations in three radio markets were cited as among the first to broadcast in Quad. Name one of the markets. Baltimore (WKRK), Houston (KAUM) and New Orleans (WRNO). (KWOD-- the call letters named for their Quad broadcasting-- licensed to Woodland, CA (a Sacramento suburb) did not debut until 1977.)
Full moon today. We'll talk about it Monday night. We'll probably have a Phil Berg update too. Looking forward to it!
THURSDAY JANUARY 8, 2009 7:00 AM (CT) Happy Birthday to Val Shively. I call his R&B Records location the Philadelphia Shrine, and if you're a fan of obscure oldies, this is the mother lode. Five million 45s, albums & CDs too. And not just R&B, though Vocal Group Harmony is his first love. One of my greatest frustrations is knowing there are countless records I've never heard that would become instant faves if I had a chance to listen to them. Of course I realize I'd have to listen to about a thousand to find one. But with 5 million, I'd be busy a long time. Therefore my original retirement plan was to move onto his third floor and never leave. But now I realize the health department would have a say in that. Sometimes I think they'll have a say even without my presence, but regardless, if you know what you're looking for, Val knows how to find it. It's in house. Almost guaranteed. 610-352-2320. No email, no web orders. But you can fax your want list to 610-352-8199.
Speaking of music, if you're in Florida and want to catch a live act you'll likely enjoy whether you're a fan of R&B or country, it's Stephen Foster & Howler. Check out his site here. You'll find links to his gigs-- check him out.
And if you're a fan of radio, you might want to take a look at the musings of George Johns. If you work in radio, I probably don't have to explain who George is, or list his numerous accomplishments, but given his legendary programming past, it's fun to get his take on the present and reminisce about days long gone by. Check it out here.
Undoubtedly you've heard about Larry Flynt and Joe Francis asking for bailout money for the porno industry. These guys are nothing if not self promoters. They've made every newscast out there. And believe me, they're not serious (though also believe me, they'd keep the check in the highly unlikely event it arrived).
But unlike all those instantly outraged at the premise, I think they deserve the money. All of it, actually. The government has been debasing the citizenry by screwing every one of us financially in the most flagrantly obscene manner. Face it, there's some symmetry here. And at least Flynt and Francis are as advertised. Meanwhile, the government is lying through their teeth as they amp up to stick it to us even further. Nevermind that from all accounts their businesses continue to be recession proof, they're the closest we'll get to Bernanke and Paulson .
Then again, if it worked like other bailout deals, the government would get a big piece of the action, so to speak. And heaven forbid some bureaucrat starts demanding a stop to things like age discrimination. That'd kill their industry in minutes. Maybe I"ll rethink this. After I stop laughing.
But stupidity in the government knows no bounds. Take the legislature. One of their bills, the "Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act" goes into effect on February 10th. Its got a typical "It's For The Children!" component in that anything (clothes, toys whatever) intended for those 12 and under must be tested for lead and phthalates (an industrial compound, basically an alkyl ester, which can be toxic) whenever it is sold (or resold based on the wording of the bill).. that may be fine for the manufacturers, but you're probably ahead of me here when you realize congress inadvertently outlawed the selling of kids clothes at thrift shops, yard sales and a host of other venues which cash strapped parents often rely. Just in time for the depression, we bring you this. It's expected they'll amend their actions but for now, forget Goodwill next month if you're shopping for junior. You can get more info here (scroll down to the entry for 01/04/09 by Megben "second hand childrens clothes illegal? (search for it if it's fallen off the home page-- they've got archives). More outrages tonight at 9 (CT), you can count on it!
TUESDAY JANUARY 6, 2009 12:30 AM (CT) First things first-- Friday's trivia answers. The Bumper Stumpers are up under "Who Did That Record" to your left. The questions of the hour? In 1970, a White House conference made several recommendations. One was to devote 25% of the federal budget to this. To what? Education. (It was the Conference on Children and Youth to be held every 10 years. Other recommendations were to end the war in “Indochina”, improve the environment and to lower to 18 the legal age to enter into contracts as an adult.)
The 1970 White House Conference on Children and Youth came under criticism for two reasons. One was the charge that delegates were handpicked to exclude this group. What group? Militants. What was the other, even bigger criticism against that conference? The intent to exclude press coverage.
Our RadioLogoland.com question? By the time the 70s rolled around, FM was a viable medium due to a technological improvement. What was it? The development of the Field Effect Transistor (which eliminated the drifting problem). RadioLogoland.com is a wonderful site offering logos from your favorite radio stations back in the day emblazoned on sweatshirts, teeshirts and more. Check it out! End of happy stuff.
Can you believe the Al Franken certification? It's not whether you want Al or not, but how can any state certify an election where several precincts have more votes than registered voters? How can any state allow each precinct or district to handle the rules of the recount differently? In Hennepin County (Minneapolis) for instance, original results stood when there was a question about the recount. This favored Franken. In Ramsey County (St. Paul), the recount took precedent over the original results. This favored Franken too. In fact the only consistency was that the decisions, disparate as they were, all benefited one candidate-- Franken. Franken supporters are pleased. They should be tremendously troubled, as should we all. The very idea that votes will be counted in the way that garners the result they desire should have them realize that such favoritism can work against them in the same manner next time. Read this. And this. And that's just for openers.
Can't talk politics without discussing Obama's natural born citizenship crisis. Yes, it looks like courts and legislators will ignore this issue but it continues to take on a life of its own with interesting twists and turns that lead those walking down this road to see several ways the sun will shine on the facts eventually. Here again, it's not a question of whether you want Obama to be the president. It isn't even about him really. Rather it's a question of whether the few constitutional requirements of presidential office holders are verified. The answer is no, they are not.
So the next question is, what if it turns out that a victorious candidate is not constitutionally qualified, what happens then? I suspect we'll be finding out. And I hope we'll be finding out sooner rather than later. You may know of the various lawsuits surrounding these allegations. If not, Devvy Kidd has a good rundown here. But more interesting is what might be found in Obama's mother's past-- such as her return to the USA with her newborn (if that is the case). We're closer to finding the Port of Entry documents. As for now, there's interest in her divorces and what the papers reveal. Obama himself admits to being Soetoro's adopted son. But when did he legally revert to being Obama? There are many more questions and answers seem to be emerging. Lots of speculation at this point but no hard conclusions, so I won't link. But be on the look out for online documents.
And read this week's Globe Magazine. Yes, it's made the tabloids. Front page story. They didn't get it all correct, such as confusing Certification of Birth with a Birth Certificate (a distinction Hawaiians understand which is very relevant to this issue) but kudos to them for bringing it up. They're planning follow up stories too. Frankly I hope this is much ado about nothing, but I suspect there's a major smoking gun that could go off just when America needs it least. Speaking of those lawsuits, we had Phil Berg on last Tuesday night and many have requested we put the interview online. Here it is.
Any doubt that Al Global Warming Gore is full of it is put to rest with the news he's not sharing-- we have as much global sea ice as we did when we started keeping records. Here's the info.
And finally if you're in Chicago, more of your infrastructure is being sold out from under you. This time it's CN (Canadian National Railroad) buying EJ&E (Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway) mostly for the tracks. Who cares? Well if you live in a suburb, you will. Especially when the two mile long trains tie up all your intersections creating traffic snarls worthy of the inner city. Read about that here. I'll have more good news for you by tonight, I'm sure. Talk to you then!
JANUARY 2, 2009 1:00 AM (CT) The annual meetings of The Rollye James' I Hate The Holiday's Club have come to a close. You can go out now without fear of frivolity, bad taste decorations, horrible music and all the things that have caused you to hibernate since Thanksgiving. Congratulations. You made it! It was my privilege to keep you company every weeknight. Trivia tonight at 9 (CT). Gonna be interesting based on the caller volume we've had all week. I'll try to scare up a guest, but failing that, please let all your friends and neighbors know it will be easy to get through on the phone tonight. Something tells me I'll be playing with myself, so to speak. Prove me wrong by participating! Talk to you in about 20 hours.
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